One of Russia's closest allies warned it against sending North Korean troops to war

• The US said it had seen grounds that North Korea had sent troops to Russia.
• Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said deploying North Korean soldiers would lead to escalation.
• He said that nan engagement of North Korean troops would beryllium "undesirable for Russia."

One of President Vladimir Putin's closest friends this week warned Russia against sending North Korean troops to war.

Speaking to BBC News connected Wednesday, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said North Korean troops would beryllium "a measurement toward nan escalation of nan conflict."

"Even if we sewage progressive successful nan warfare this would beryllium a way to escalation," he added. "Why? Because you, nan Anglo-Saxons, would instantly opportunity that different state had sewage progressive connected 1 side...so NATO troops would beryllium deployed to Ukraine."

When asked if he believed nan reports were true, he said they were apt "rubbish."

"Knowing his characteristic Putin would ne'er effort to seduce different state to impact its service successful Russia's typical cognition successful Ukraine," he told nan BBC.

In different question and reply pinch nan Russian state-run TV channel, Rossiya 1, cited by nan Institute for nan Study of War (ISW), Lukashenko said he didn't judge Russia needed North Korean troops to succeed.

He added that Moscow understood nan engagement of North Korean troops would beryllium "undesirable for Russia" and reiterated that it would lead to nan deployment of NATO troops to Ukraine.

ISW noted that nan Kremlin newswire TASS cited Lukashenko's comments astir NATO but grounded to study connected his views regarding North Korean troops successful its coverage.

North Korea is believed to person sent thousands of troops to Russia successful a move that could escalate nan warfare successful Ukraine, according to officials successful South Korea, Ukraine, and nan US.

Russian President Vladimir Putin this week appeared to corroborate nan reports.

When asked astir satellite images apparently showing North Korean soldiers connected nan move, Putin said: "Images are a superior thing. If location are images, past they bespeak something."

North Korean troops aiding Russia offers a captious boost for Kim Jong Un and his regime, experts antecedently told Business Insider.

"It's a win-win situation," Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., a North Korea defense master astatine nan Center for Strategic and International Studies, said.

"He's getting paid, getting entree to overseas technology. He's getting entree to real-world combat accusation to amended his protect and violative capabilities."

Experts person suggested that Russia is apt to beryllium offering economical assistance and negotiated assistance successful return.