Pentagon: North Korea sends 10,000 troops to Russia to fight in Ukraine

The US estimates that North Korea has sent approximately 10,000 soldiers to Russia for training and potential combat against Ukraine in the coming weeks.

As reported by AP, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh stated that some of these North Korean soldiers, whose deployment to Russia was confirmed last week, have already moved closer to Ukraine.

"We are increasingly concerned that Russia intends to use these soldiers in combat or to support combat operations against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk," she said.

The Pentagon’s spokesperson emphasised that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has publicly warned that North Korean soldiers engaging in war against Ukraine will be considered combatants and legitimate military targets.

Last week, South Korean intelligence reported that North Korea had sent 3,000 troops to Russia to support Russian forces in the conflict and has also attempted to isolate the soldiers' families to prevent information leaks. 

The White House later confirmed the presence of several thousand North Korean troops in Russia, leading Germany and Austria to summon North Korean ambassadors for discussions.