US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that there is evidence of North Korean troops being present in Russia, but their exact role remains unclear, raising concerns about their potential involvement in the Ukraine conflict, Reuters reports.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that up to 12,000 North Korean troops could be preparing to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine. Austin emphasized that if these troops are indeed co-belligerents, it would be a significant escalation. The Kremlin has dismissed these allegations. However, Austin suggested that the North Korean presence could indicate deeper manpower issues within the Russian military, which has reportedly suffered over 600,000 casualties in the ongoing war, according to US officials.
Additionally, South Korea’s intelligence agency reported that 1,500 special forces from North Korea have been sent to Russia’s Far East for training, with potential deployment in Ukraine. North Korea has also reportedly supplied Russia with thousands of artillery rounds and ballistic missiles, although both nations deny engaging in arms transfers.
