North Korea announced on Friday that sending troops to support Russia in the war in Ukraine would align with international law, though it held back from confirming any actual deployments.

The statement from North Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Jong Gyu to the state news agency statement comes in the wake of claims that Ukraine, the US, and South Korea have evidence that North Korea has already sent thousands of troops to Russia, potentially for deployment against Ukraine. On Wednesday, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate the GUR, reported spotting North Korean ground forces in Kursk, where Russian troops have been battling a surprise Ukrainian incursion since August. The GUR estimated that there were 500 North Korean officers, including three army generals, to support Russian forces, although North Korean troops have not had a presence confirmed in Ukraine.

In the media release, North Korea stated that it acts in accordance with the regulations of international law. Russia and North Korea have a recently ratified mutual defense pact.

The EU claims that such deployments would be illegal because they would constitute participation in a war of aggression. The High Representative of the EU went on to criticize Russia for breaching UN resolutions that prohibit military cooperation with North Korea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sidestepped directly denying the presence of North Korean troops in Russia during Thursday’s press conference at the BRICS summit. Instead, he emphasized that the details of Russia’s defense pact with North Korea are solely of concern to Moscow and Pyongyang. He went on to blame the West for fueling the war in Ukraine.

On Thursday, the Russian parliament ratified a mutual defense pact sealed in June between President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. That same day, Putin remarked that he “never doubted” Kim’s commitment to mutual support when they signed the agreement in Pyongyang.