North Korea evaded a question about whether it has deployed troops to Russia during a U.N. Security Council (UNSC) on Wednesday, arguing that the two countries are fortifying ties in line with their recently ratified mutual defense pact.

During the meeting — convened to discuss recent Russian attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure — U.S. representative Robert A. Wood directly asked DPRK Ambassador Kim Song about reports that North Korea has sent at least 10,000 soldiers to support the invasion of Ukraine.