The U.S. Confirms: North Korea Has Sent at Least 3,000 Military Personnel to Russia

The United States government confirmed on Wednesday, October 25, the deployment of military personnel from North Korea to Russia to assist in its war against Ukraine. A spokesperson for the National Security Council at the White House stated that the U.S. believes at least 3,000 troops have been sent from North Korea to Russia. John Kirby added that these troops were dispatched by ship to Vladivostok, Russia's largest port on the Pacific Ocean, earlier this month in October. According to him, these North Korean soldiers were then sent to several training centers in eastern Russia and are currently undergoing training. This senior White House official mentioned that the U.S. still does not know whether they will fight alongside Russian soldiers, but he considered this the 'most concerning possibility.' John Kirby also noted that the United States is in close contact with its partners and allies to gain a complete understanding of the current situation. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also told reporters earlier on Wednesday that we need to see what the North Korean soldiers are doing in Russia. He referred to the history of arms shipments from North Korea to Russia, considering the deployment of troops as the 'next step' for the country, stating that Pyongyang will face consequences for it. Recently, reports have emerged about the presence of North Korean military personnel inside Ukraine to assist Russia, with some even reported killed or wounded. The statements from Kirby and Austin mark the first official confirmation of this matter from the United States. In response to Pyongyang's assistance to Moscow, South Korea threatened to send weapons to Ukraine. The U.S. called the deployment of troops from North Korea to Russia for the war against Ukraine 'dangerous.' The United States expressed concern over the deployment of North Korean soldiers to Russia for the war with Ukraine. Zelensky stated that 12,000 North Korean military personnel have been stationed in Russia to fight in Ukraine. There are concerns from the U.S. regarding North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and Pyongyang's military support for Russia's war in Ukraine.