The Pentagon has made it clear that if North Korea joins Russia in its war against Ukraine, the United States (US) will not set new 'limits' on the use of American weapons by Ukraine.
The announcement follows reports that North Korean troops have been deployed in Russia's Kursk region, which is close to Ukraine.
The Pentagon estimates 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to the region, up from an estimate of 3,000 last Wednesday.
The US and NATO are concerned that North Korea's involvement may escalate the ongoing conflict, while Russia sees this support as a way to counter its battlefield challenges in eastern Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has warned that the growing cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses security risks beyond Europe, affecting regions as far as the Indo-Pacific.
Ukrainian leaders see the deployment as an escalation of the conflict and have urged their allies to allow unrestricted use of long-range weapons.
Relations between North Korea and Russia have strengthened significantly over the past year, with high-level visits and agreements, including defense alliances.
