U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin listens to remarks by U.S. President Joe Biden during a Cabinet meeting inside the West Wing at the White House in Washington, U.S, September 20, 2024.Tom Brenner/Reuters
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday he could not confirm reports that North Korea has sent troops to Russia ahead of what could be a deployment to the war in Ukraine, but added such a move would be concerning, if true.
South Korea’s spy agency said on Friday that North Korea has shipped 1,500 special forces troops to Russia’s Far East for training and acclimatizing at local military bases and will likely be deployed for combat in the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accused North Korea on Thursday of deploying officers alongside Russia and preparing to send 10,000 soldiers to help Moscow’s war effort. NATO chief Mark Rutte, however, said this week there was no evidence of Pyongyang’s presence at this stage.
Russia and North Korea both deny assertions that North Korea may have sent some military personnel to help Russia against Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday his country has intelligence information that 10,000 troops from North Korea are being prepared to join Russian forces fighting against his country.
The Associated Press