It is the first public confirmation by the US since reports emerged of North Korean troops on the ground in Russia.
Washington has proof North Korean troops are present in Russia, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters in Rome on Wednesday.
“There is evidence that there are DPRK troops in Russia. What exactly they are doing? Left to be seen. These are things that we need to sort out,” Austin said.
“If they’re a co-belligerent, their intention is to participate in this war on Russia’s behalf, that is a very, very serious issue, and it will have impacts not only on in Europe — it will also impact things in the Indo-Pacific as well.”
Asked what North Korea would get in return for helping Russia with manpower, Austin explained that the US was still trying to determine that as well. “You have seen DPRK provide arms and munitions to Russia. And this is a next step.”
But it also indicates that Putin “maybe even in more trouble than most people realise,” Austin added, noting that after getting additional weapons and materials from North Korea and Iran, Putin is “now making a move to get more people, if that is the case and if these troops are designed to be a part of the fight in Ukraine”.
Austin’s comment is Washington’s first public confirmation of previous statements made by Ukraine and South Korea.
He didn’t mention these reports during his Monday visit to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced €370 million in new military aid.
Military intelligence warnings aplenty
Hours earlier, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said that the first North Korean units were expected to arrive in Russia’s Kursk region on Wednesday, where they could supposedly help Russia resist Ukraine’s incursion.
Earlier in October, Budanov said that the first group would consist of 2,600 soldiers out of the total number of around 11,000 North Korean troops in Russia, which will be “ready to fight” in Ukraine by 1 November.
Zelenskyy stated that two North Korean brigades of up to 6,000 personnel each are currently undergoing training in Russia.
The Ukrainian leader earlier said that according to military intelligence, some North Korean officers are already in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Seoul is considering the possibility of deploying a team of military personnel from intelligence units to Ukraine following reports on Pyongyang’s involvement in Russia’s full-scale invasion, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported.
National Intelligence Services Director Cho Tae-yong said about 3,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, and they are now receiving training on drones and other equipment before being deployed to battlefields in Ukraine.
“Deployment of approximately 10,000 soldiers, which North Korea and Russia had planned is expected to take place sometime in December,” Cho stated.
Also speaking jointly about the briefing, lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun said that Seoul is also aware that Russia is hiring a large number of Korean translators.
“Russian military instructors were known to have evaluated that the North Korean soldiers’ health and spirit are in good shape, but they lack the understanding of modern warfare including drone attacks,” Lee said.
“They also predict that when they are sent to frontlines there can be heavy casualties.”
If South Korea deploys its team of experts to Ukraine, it may include military personnel from intelligence units who will be able to analyze Pyongyang’s warfare tactics or participate in the interrogations of captured North Koreans.
Seoul is also reportedly considering providing Ukraine with armed support. Until now, South Korea has only provided humanitarian aid to Kyiv.
