The Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia.
The Pentagon acknowledged the troop movement in a statement, stating that it would pose a “very, very serious issue” if North Korean troops were deployed to Ukraine. South Korean intelligence reported that approximately 3,000 troops had been sent to Russia and are currently undergoing training on drones and other equipment.
“What exactly are they doing? Left to be seen. These are things that we need to sort out,” Austin said.
Intelligence officials in both South Korea and Ukraine had previously indicated that North Korean troops were being transferred to Russia.
Russia and North Korea have denied these troop movements.
South Korean National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong informed lawmakers that North Korea plans to deploy 10,000 troops to Russia by December, a figure consistent with claims from Ukrainian intelligence.
So far, 3,000 troops have made the journey, but none have reportedly been deployed to combat.
said on Tuesday that it may begin sending weapons to Ukraine in response to the deployment. Officials stated that their response would be staged and linked to the level of cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has asserted that it would represent a “significant escalation” if North Korean troops were to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
North Korea and Russia, engaged in separate confrontations with the West, have significantly increased their cooperation over the past two years. The U.S., South Korea, and their partners have accused North Korea of supplying artillery shells, missiles, and other to support Russia’s war against Ukraine in exchange for economic and military assistance. In June, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an agreement guaranteeing mutual military support if either country is attacked.
‘ Greg Wehner and