The United States has reportedly gathered evidence suggesting that North Korea has deployed 3,000 troops to Russia, potentially to support Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
According to U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking during a press conference in Rome, this could mark a significant escalation in the conflict. Reuters reports that Austin emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “If North Korean forces are preparing to fight alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, it would be very, very serious.”
Austin further revealed that evidence points to North Korean troops being stationed in Russia, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Later, White House spokesperson John Kirby confirmed that at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to be undergoing training at three military bases in eastern Russia. He added that these soldiers were transported by ship in early to mid-October from North Korea’s Wonsan region to Vladivostok, before being moved to the training sites. Kirby cautioned that should these troops be deployed in Ukraine, “they’re fair game,” implying that Ukrainian forces would defend themselves against them just as they do against Russian soldiers.
In South Korea, lawmakers have reported that North Korea is planning to send approximately 10,000 troops to Russia by December. Park Sun-won, a member of South Korea’s parliamentary intelligence committee, stated that “signs of troops being trained inside North Korea were detected in September and October,” based on information from the national intelligence agency.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the war has become a drawn-out conflict along the eastern front, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. U.S. officials suggest that North Korea’s involvement may highlight manpower shortages within the Russian military.
However, the Kremlin has dismissed these reports from Seoul as “fake news,” and a North Korean UN representative called the claims “groundless rumours.” Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied any transfer of weapons, although they have committed to strengthening military cooperation, following the signing of a mutual defense treaty in June.
A report from Seoul’s National Intelligence Service indicated that North Korea has sent around 1,500 special forces to Russia by ship, likely to be deployed in Ukraine after undergoing training. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also accused North Korea of preparing to send 10,000 soldiers to Russia, calling on allies to address this potential involvement.
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