Pentagon clarifies what will happen if North Korean soldiers sent to russia get killed by Ukraine with weapons provided by United States

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized that if the North Korean military will fight alongside russian soldiers, the Ukrainian side has the right to defend itself, including with weapons provided by the U.S. and other partners.

He said this during a joint briefing with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun on October 30.

"Well, if the DPRK soldiers are fighting alongside Russian soldiers in this conflict and attacking Ukrainian soldiers, Ukrainian soldiers have the right to defend themselves and they will do that with the weapons that we provided and others have provided," the head of the Pentagon replied when asked what would happen if North Korean soldiers were killed by weapons provided by the United States.

He emphasized that "that's to be expected". Austin explained that if North Korean soldiers are fighting side-by-side with russian soldiers, then they are co-belligerents, and in that case there is every reason to believe that such things will happen - that they will be killed and wounded in combat.

At the beginning of the briefing, Austin recalled that there are currently reports that North Korea has sent about 10,000 soldiers to train in eastern russia, and some of these North Korean troops have already moved closer to Ukraine.

"And we're seeing them outfitted with Russian uniforms and provided with Russian equipment. And I am increasingly concerned that the Kremlin plans to use these North Korean soldiers to support Russia's combat operations in Russia's Kursk region near the border with Ukraine. And let me remind you that Russia signed on to the UN Security Council resolutions agreeing not to provide military assistance to North Korea," he emphasized.

According to him, turning to such a country as North Korea for troops only emphasizes how much russian leader vladimir putin has big problems.

"We urge the Kremlin to change course and we fully understand the security implications for both Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Putin will not prevail in Ukraine even with more help from North Korea, but these deeply concerning developments only underscore the importance of our alliance with the ROK and other allies and partners committed to shared security and prosperity. Now, Minister Kim and I had an outstanding meeting today," he said.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on October 28, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte officially confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops in russia's Kursk Oblast and, on behalf of the Alliance, called on russia and the DPRK to immediately stop these actions.

Against this background, the Pentagon announced that the United States will not impose new restrictions on Ukraine's use of American weapons if North Korea enters the war.

Meanwhile, El Pais, citing a Ukrainian military official stationed in the Kursk Oblast, said that Ukrainian artillery had already struck buildings where North Korean soldiers were believed to be.

Also, CNN, citing two representatives of Western intelligence, claims that a small number of North Korean troops are already on the territory of Ukraine, and as the exercises in the east of the russian federation end, their number will increase.

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