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Pentagon Reports 10,000 North Korean Soldiers Deployed to Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict
The Pentagon reveals that 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia for training and potential combat against Ukraine, escalating concerns over the conflict's expansion.
ND
by News Desk
2024-10-29
Pentagon Reports 10,000 North Korean Soldiers Deployed to Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict

The Pentagon has confirmed that an estimated 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been dispatched to Russia in what officials describe as a significant military intervention that could heighten tensions in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Initially estimated at 3,000, the increase in numbers underscores the growing military collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow, prompting fears of an expanded war.

 

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh stated that some of these soldiers have already moved closer to the Ukrainian border, with concerns that Russia may use them to support combat operations against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk Oblast region. This development raises alarms about a potential escalation in the conflict.

 

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed grave concerns over the North Korean military's deployment, labeling it a direct threat to both South Korea and the broader international community. He condemned the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea as "illegal."

 

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte echoed these sentiments, describing the North Korean troop deployment as a "significant escalation" in the Ukraine conflict and a "dangerous expansion" of Russia's military actions. He emphasized that this growing partnership between Russia and North Korea poses threats not only to Europe but also to the Indo-Pacific region.

 

Despite initial denials from Moscow, which dismissed reports of North Korean involvement as "fake news," Russian President Vladimir Putin has refrained from denying the presence of North Korean troops, indicating that such military partnerships are an internal matter for Russia. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov downplayed the concerns raised by NATO, claiming that Western military instructors have long been assisting Ukraine covertly.

 

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are scheduled to meet with their South Korean counterparts to discuss the implications of North Korean involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Singh noted that if North Korean troops move to the front lines, they would effectively be co-belligerents in the war, and there would be no restrictions on the use of U.S.-provided weapons against them.

 

As the situation develops, South Korea's government is preparing countermeasures and assessing all possible scenarios in light of the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Ukrainian officials have long warned of the North Korean deployment and criticized their allies for not responding more decisively. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized the need for lifting restrictions on long-range strikes against Russia to counter this new threat.

 

The situation remains fluid, and the implications of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces could have profound effects on the trajectory of the conflict in Ukraine.

 
Tagged:

Russia

pentagon

NATO

MilitaryCooperation

NorthKorea

GlobalSecurity

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