Pentagon head confirms presence of North Korean military forces in russia

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the United States has evidence of sending North Korean military forces to russia, but the purpose of their deployment is currently unclear.

He told reporters about this, The Washington Post reports.

"Our analysts ... continue to look at this. 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. But, yes, there is evidence that there are DPRK troops in Russia," Austin said.

Asked separately about the purpose of North Korea's troop deployment, the Pentagon chief said the United States was still trying to determine that.

"If they’re co-belligerents, if their intention is to participate in this war on Russia’s behalf, that is a very, very serious issue. It will have impacts, not only in Europe. It will also impact things in the Indo-Pacific as well," Austin said.

He also noted that it is unclear what North Korea will gain from this deployment. But, he added, this indicates significant weaknesses in the military potential of russia, which was forced to turn to allies Iran and North Korea for help in its war against Ukraine.

"This is an indication that he may be even in more trouble than most people realize," Austin said of russian president vladimir putin.

Recall that earlier South Korean intelligence published satellite images that recorded the movement of North Korean troops towards the aggressor state of russia. In particular, North Korea has decided to send about 12,000 troops to russia to support its war against Ukraine and has already deployed 1,500 special forces fighters in Vladivostok.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, the Center for Countering Disinformation said that North Korean soldiers were moved from the Far East to the depths of the russian federation.

South Korea is considering sending a spy team to Ukraine to monitor North Korean troops deployed to support russia. The country's government is also considering the option of providing armed support to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the ISW noted that the kremlin is very concerned about the prospect of South Korea providing the necessary military support to Ukraine against the backdrop of russia's deepening cooperation with the DPRK and the announcement of the deployment of North Korean troops for training in the russian federation.

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