Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Wednesday that NATO is planning a “firm response” to North Korean participation in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte after their meeting at the military alliance’s headquarters in Belgium, Blinken told the press that North Korean belligerence in the region “demands” further action.

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“We had a very productive discussion today about our ongoing support for Ukraine in the face of an ongoing Russian aggression, as well this added element now of DPRK North Korean forces injected into the battle and now quite literally in combat, which demands and will get a firm response,” Blinken told the media.

The secretary is in Brussels this week for a meeting with his NATO and European Union counterparts to solidify President Joe Biden‘s foreign policy plans for Ukraine — a message Blinken rammed home in his address with Rutte.

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“President Biden fully intends to drive through the tape and use every day to continue to do what we’ve done over these last four years, which is strengthen this Alliance that’s so critical to the security of the United States and security of countries throughout Europe,” the secretary said.

Approximately 10,000 North Korean troops are confirmed to be positioned near the Kursk region of Russia, currently under the military control of Ukraine. The loss of hundreds of miles of Russian territory has been a major embarrassment for the Kremlin, and the deployment of foreign soldiers shows a sense of desperation to reclaim the land.

With just a little over two months left before President-elect Donald Trump‘s second inauguration, the Biden administration is scrambling to tie up loose ends in regional conflicts around the world.

The Department of State recently walked back its threats to cut off military support for Israel if the nation did not address 15 points of concern regarding the inability to render humanitarian aid in Gaza.

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Blinken co-signed a letter with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in October outlining the improvements required to ensure greater care for Palestinian civilians. The deadline to implement those policy changes expired on Tuesday without full compliance.

“The intent was to inject a sense of urgency with Israel to take necessary steps to address the dire humanitarian situation of children, women, and men in Gaza,” Blinken explained on Wednesday. “The effect has been that of the 15 steps that we urged action on, Israel has taken action either in implementing or being in the process of implementing 12 of the 15 steps.”