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.

“The deployment of DPRK troops to help Russia carry out its illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and the