The Kremlin on Thursday rejected South Korean claims that North Korea may have sent military personnel to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine and could potentially deploy more troops.

South Korea’s Defense Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, stated earlier this week that “there was a high possibility” North Korea might send troops to support Russia in the conflict.

He also mentioned that reports of North Korean military officers being killed in a Ukrainian strike on Russian-controlled territory were likely accurate.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed these claims, calling them “fake news,” Reuters has reported.

When asked by reporters about the possibility of North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine, Peskov denied the allegations, adding that they had no basis in fact.

Written by B.C. Begley