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North Korea to Send 10,000 Troops to Russia for Ukraine War: Pentagon
The Pentagon has confirmed that North Korea is sending around 10,000 troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine in the coming weeks.
Some North Korean soldiers have already moved closer to Ukraine, heading towards Russia’s Kursk border region, where Ukrainian forces have launched counterattacks, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on Monday.
North Korea’s Growing Role in Ukraine Conflict
The deployment of North Korean military units to Russia has been viewed as a major escalation in Pyongyang’s involvement in the nearly three-year-old conflict. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also corroborated reports that North Korean forces are already present in the Kursk region. This move comes as a significant concern for global security, according to South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who called the cooperation between Russia and North Korea a “serious threat” to international peace and security.
Strategic Cooperation Between Russia and North Korea
The increased cooperation between Russia and North Korea has raised alarms in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly among countries like Japan and Australia. North Korea’s state media confirmed that a delegation led by Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui has left for Russia to participate in what is described as a “strategic dialogue” aimed at deepening ties.
Russia, under President Vladimir Putin, has been seeking international support for its war efforts, with both Iran and North Korea providing military assistance. Western governments have reported that North Korea has been supplying large amounts of ammunition, while Iran has contributed drones.
International Reactions and Concerns
US President Joe Biden has labeled the deployment of North Korean troops as “very dangerous,” echoing the concerns of other global leaders. Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to meet with his South Korean counterpart, Kim Yong-hyun, in Washington to discuss the situation. According to Singh, North Korean soldiers stationed on the frontlines in Ukraine would be considered co-belligerents, facing no restrictions on the use of US-provided weapons against them.
The involvement of North Korean troops in Europe’s largest conflict since World War II adds further complexity to an already volatile global situation.
