U.S. Claims Evidence of North Korean Troops in Russia, Potentially for Ukraine Conflict

North Korean Troops

On Wednesday, the United States revealed for the first time that it has gathered evidence indicating North Korea has dispatched 3,000 troops to Russia, potentially for deployment in Ukraine. This development raises concerns of a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict as Russia continues its military operations against Ukraine.

During a press conference in Rome, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting that it would be a “very, very serious” matter if North Korean forces were indeed preparing to engage in combat alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, as Kyiv has suggested.

However, Austin acknowledged that the specific intentions of the North Korean soldiers in Russia remain unclear. He confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia by using the country’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Later in the day, White House spokesperson John Kirby elaborated on the situation, stating that the U.S. believes at least 3,000 North Korean troops are currently undergoing training at three military bases in eastern Russia.

According to Kirby, these soldiers were transported by ship from North Korea’s Wonsan region to the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok in early to mid-October before being relocated to military training sites in the region.

Kirby underscored the potential implications of the deployment, asserting that if North Korean troops were to fight against Ukraine, they would be considered legitimate military targets. “They’re fair game,” he stated, affirming that the Ukrainian military would defend itself against North Korean forces in the same manner as it does against Russian soldiers.

In Seoul, South Korean lawmakers reported that Pyongyang has pledged to send a total of approximately 10,000 troops, with their deployment expected to be completed by December. Park Sun-won, a member of South Korea’s parliamentary intelligence committee, stated that indications of troop training within North Korea were detected in September and October.

The conflict in Ukraine, which erupted following Russia’s invasion in February 2022, has devolved into a protracted war of attrition, with heavy casualties reported on both sides. The U.S. government’s allegations regarding North Korean troop deployment could further indicate that the Russian military is facing significant manpower issues.

Despite these claims, both the Kremlin and Pyongyang have dismissed allegations of troop deployments as “fake news.” A North Korean representative at the United Nations described the reports as “groundless rumors.”

Both countries have denied any transfers of military weapons, although they have expressed intentions to enhance their military cooperation, including a mutual defense treaty signed during a summit in June.

Further evidence of North Korea’s involvement in the conflict has emerged, with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service recently reporting that approximately 1,500 special forces personnel had already been sent to Russia and are likely being trained for combat in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accused North Korea of preparing to send 10,000 soldiers to Russia, urging allies to respond to the growing evidence of North Korean participation in the war.

NATO allies are actively discussing the implications of North Korean troop deployment in Russia, with a spokesperson indicating ongoing consultations.

A Biden administration official has suggested that these North Korean forces might be deployed to eastern Ukraine or the Kursk region, where Russian troops are engaged in combat against Ukrainian forces that have maintained control over seized territory since August.

In response to the situation, U.S. House Intelligence Committee Chair Mike Turner has called for President Joe Biden to enable Ukraine to utilize U.S.-supplied arms if North Korean troops were to attack Ukraine from Russian territory.

Turner further emphasized that if North Korean forces were to invade Ukraine’s sovereign territory, the U.S. should seriously consider direct military action against them.