The foreign ministers of the Group of Seven(G7) nations have expressed serious concern about the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia, saying the North’s involvement marks a dangerous expansion of the conflict. 

According to Reuters, the foreign ministers issued a joint statement on Tuesday after two days of talks in Italy. 

In the statement, the top diplomats said the North’s direct support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine marks a “dangerous expansion” of the conflict, with serious consequences for European and Indo-Pacific security.

The G7 foreign ministers also reaffirmed their steadfast support for Ukraine, while condemning Russia’s “irresponsible and threatening” nuclear rhetoric. 

South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul attended a session on the Indo-Pacific region and discussed responses to military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.