US: Over 3,000 North Korean Troops Training in Russia
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According to the United States, at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia for training. On Wednesday, the U.S. warned that these troops would be considered legitimate targets by Ukraine if they participate in combat.
The military alliance between Russia and North Korea has deepened during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with Pyongyang facing accusations of supplying weapons to Russia. The deployment of North Korean troops would mark a notable increase in support for Moscow, sparking concerns among Kyiv and its Western allies. On the same day, these allies announced a $50 billion loan package to aid Ukraine.
John Kirby, spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, revealed that North Korean soldiers had arrived in Russia between early and mid-October. The troops traveled by ship to Vladivostok before proceeding to multiple military training sites in eastern Russia.
Kirby said the U.S. is unsure if these soldiers will enter combat, but warned that if they do, “they will become legitimate military targets.”
North Korean state media has remained silent since reports from South Korea’s intelligence service last week suggested that Pyongyang had decided to send a “large-scale” deployment of troops to Russia. When asked for comment on Wednesday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova declined to confirm or deny the reports, directing inquiries to North Korea.
Following a briefing from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, lawmaker Park Sun-won reported that an additional 1,500 North Korean troops had been deployed to Russia, raising the total to 3,000. There are also indications that North Korea intends to send up to 10,000 troops by December, heightening international alarm.
Germany has already summoned North Korea’s ambassador, expressing concern that North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war poses a threat to European security. Kyiv also issued a warning to any North Korean soldiers deployed by Russia, urging them to surrender and avoid unnecessary deaths.
South Korean authorities previously claimed that North Korea has been supplying Russia with weapons for the Ukraine war. Tensions have escalated following a June military agreement between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. South Korea is sending a delegation to NATO headquarters in Brussels to brief the alliance on these developments.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Kyiv’s allies to act decisively, warning that North Korean involvement could prolong the conflict. In his remarks, Zelensky stressed that if Russia is able to expand the war, those who fail to push for peace are indirectly helping Putin.
Experts suggest that in exchange for the deployment, North Korea may be seeking advanced military technology from Russia, including surveillance satellites and submarines, as well as potential security guarantees. Both Russia and North Korea are currently under UN sanctions—Russia for its involvement in Ukraine and North Korea for its nuclear program.
Meanwhile, Ukraine secured a significant financial boost on Wednesday, with G7 nations pledging $50 billion in loans. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen indicated that these funds will come from interest on frozen Russian assets.