Washington: North Korea has dispatched at least 3,000 troops to eastern Russia this month, a development confirmed by a White House official. The move has raised concerns about the potential involvement of these troops in combat against Ukraine following their training in Russia.
According to Yonhap News Agency, National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby stated that the United States assessed the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia from early- to mid-October. However, he emphasized that the exact mission of these troops remains unknown. Kirby noted that the soldiers traveled from the Wonsan area in North Korea to Vladivostok, Russia, and are currently stationed at various Russian military training sites in eastern Russia.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking in Rome, corroborated the reports, indicating that U.S. analysts had observed evidence of North Korean troop movement to Russia. Austin highlighted the uncertainty regarding the troops’ activities and intentions, stressing the need
for further analysis to understand the potential implications of their presence.
The deployment has sparked speculation about the nature of North Korea’s involvement and what it might receive in return from Russia. Austin acknowledged the seriousness of the situation if North Korean troops are indeed intended to participate in military operations on Russia’s behalf. He added that the issue extends beyond Europe, impacting the broader Indo-Pacific region.
The confirmation from the United States follows Seoul’s acknowledgment of the deployment, although initial discrepancies between U.S. and South Korean intelligence assessments had raised questions. Vedant Patel, the State Department’s deputy spokesperson, addressed these concerns, affirming an ongoing verification process while expressing confidence in South Korean intelligence.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported that around 3,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to have been deployed to Russia to support its conflict with Ukraine
, with expectations that the number could rise to 10,000 by December. This information was shared with lawmakers during a closed-door parliamentary intelligence committee meeting.