Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has confirmed US evidence of North Korean military forces in Russia, though their specific role remains unclear.
While Ukraine and South Korea have long alleged that North Korea deployed up to 12,000 troops to aid Russia’s war effort, Austin’s statement marks the first public confirmation from senior Biden administration officials. The deployment is particularly significant given that North Korea maintains one of the world’s largest standing armies, with more than 1.3 million active personnel.
“Now we are seeing evidence that there are North Korean troops that have gone to Russia. What exactly they’re doing is left to be seen,” he said.
He emphasized that North Korean military participation would have serious implications for both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.
The deployment, Austin suggested, highlights Russia’s military weaknesses, forcing it to rely on allies like Iran and North Korea for support in its Ukraine campaign. Any military cooperation with North Korea violates multiple UN Security Council resolutions, which prohibit both receiving military assistance from and providing military support to North Korea.
According to Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, North Korea has provided both personnel and weapons to Russia in exchange for financial compensation and nuclear technology as part of confidential agreements within a mutual aid pact signed by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang in June 2024.
In response to these developments, South Korea has indicated it might consider providing weapons to Ukraine.
Read more:
- Budanov: First North Korean troops deploy to Russia’s Kursk Wednesday
- South Korea considers sending personnel to Ukraine as North deploys troops to Russia
- South Korea summons Russian ambassador over alleged North Korean troop deployment to Ukraine
- Ukraine demands global response to North Korea’s military support for Russia’s war machine
- French minister warns of escalation as North Korea may join Russia’s war
- Ukraine’s spy chief: 11,000 North Korean soldiers will be ready to fight against Ukraine starting from November
