The U.S. government confirmed that members of the North Korean military are now in Russia, though their exact mission remains unclear. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed that while there is evidence of North Korean forces on Russian soil, their specific role is still being evaluated.
This marks the first official U.S. confirmation following earlier accusations from Ukraine and South Korea that North Korea was sending troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. NATO and allied nations are now closely monitoring the situation.
“What exactly they’re doing is left to be seen,” Austin said.
He added that if North Korean troops are directly involved in combat, it would represent a serious escalation with global implications, affecting not just Europe but also the Indo-Pacific region.
The deployment of North Korean forces raises further questions about the state of Russia’s military. Austin suggested this move could signal deeper vulnerabilities in Russia’s war effort, as Moscow increasingly relies on external allies like Iran and North Korea for support.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously shared intelligence that up to 12,000 North Korean troops could be joining Russian forces.
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