Pentagon Reports North Korean Troops in Russia Near Ukraine Border, Biden Expresses Concern

The Pentagon confirmed on Tuesday that a “small number” of North Korean troops are currently stationed in Russia’s Kursk region, which is near the Ukrainian border. They also added that an additional two thousand soldiers are expected to arrive soon.

Last week, White House National Security communications director John Kirby confirmed that North Korea had moved at least 3,000 troops to eastern Russia between early to mid-October.

The Pentagon has now reported that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia and are preparing to be sent to the front lines alongside Russian forces in their ongoing war against Ukraine.

“We believe that the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] has sent approximately 10,000 soldiers in total to train in eastern Russia, and that these troops will probably augment Russian forces near Ukraine over the next several weeks,” Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters during a news briefing Tuesday. “A portion of those soldiers have already moved closer to Ukraine towards Russia’s Kursk Oblast, near the border with Ukraine.”

Ryder further stated that these troops are in addition to the two thousand already present in the Kursk region. He also expressed the Department of Defense’s (DoD) concern that Russia intends to utilize these soldiers in combat or to support combat operations against Ukraine.

“Indications that there’s already a small number [of North Korean troops] that are actually in the Kursk Oblast, with a couple of thousand more that are either almost there, or due to arrive imminently,” he said.

The Pentagon has yet to confirm whether the North Korean soldiers have crossed into Ukraine.

“Initial indications are that these troops will be employed in some type of infantry role,” Ryder reiterated. “But again, what that could be remains to be seen. So, we’re going to continue to monitor closely.”

President Biden echoed the DoD’s concerns about the potential deployment of North Korean soldiers against Ukraine in Russia.

After speaking about infrastructure in Baltimore on Tuesday, a reporter asked Biden if he was worried about North Korean troops in Russia.

“I am concerned about it, yes,” he said.

Biden was then asked if Ukrainians should strike back.

“If they cross into Ukraine, yes,” Biden said.

Intelligence officials in both South Korea and Ukraine had previously stated that North Korean troops were being transferred to Russia.

“What exactly are they doing? Left to be seen. These are things that we need to sort out,” has said.

Russia and North Korea have denied the troop movements.

South Korean National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong told lawmakers that North Korea plans to deploy 10,000 troops to Russia by December, a number that aligns with claims from Ukrainian intelligence.

said last week that it may start sending weapons to Ukraine in reaction to the deployment. Officials said their response would come in phases linked to the depth of cooperation between Russia and North Korea.

North Korea and Russia, locked in separate confrontations with the West, have significantly boosted their cooperation in the past two years. The U.S., South Korea and their partners have accused North Korea of supplying artillery shells, missiles and other to help fuel its war against Ukraine in return for economic and military assistance. 

In June, Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a pact stipulating mutual military assistance if either country is attacked.

Digital’s Anders Hagstrom and Greg Norman, as well as

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