As evidence of the presence of “thousands” of North Korean soldiers in Russia, the US and NATO spoke today, citing the risk of a major escalation of the war in Ukraine.
For weeks officials and leaders of countries, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and prominent Seoul Pyongyang is helping Moscow with military personnel in the war in Ukraine.
So far, however, and despite repeated warnings, US officials have been extremely cautious, saying for days that they could not confirm this information.
“What exactly are they doing? That remains to be seen”
But today US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters that “we have evidence that North Korean troops have gone to (…) Russia”.
“What exactly are they doing? That remains to be seen,” he said. “If they fight, if they intend to take part in this war on behalf of Russia, that is a very serious matter.”
At the same time, a high-ranking American official emphasized that “thousands of North Korean soldiers are in Russia for training”, adding that the United States “does not know what their mission is or if they went to fight in Ukraine.”
“If they do, it will be a sign of the growing confusion of President (Vladimir of Russia) Putin in his war against Ukraine. Russia is suffering huge casualties every day on the battlefield,” said the source, who asked not to be named.
Seoul: North Korean soldiers have already arrived in Russia and are operating undercover
A significant increase
In Brussels, the NATO spokesman said that the countries of the Alliance “confirmed evidence of the deployment of North Korean soldiers in Russia”.
“If these troops are destined to fight in Ukraine, that would mean a significant increase in North Korea’s support for Russia’s illegal war,” the spokesman said.
This is the first time Washington and its allies have publicly cited evidence that North Korean soldiers were in Russia.
Up to 12,000 soldiers
Zelensky, citing information, Two units of up to 12,000 North Korean troops were reportedly being prepared who would take part in the war alongside the Russian forces.
At the same time today, South Korean lawmakers – after being tipped off by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) – revealed that Pyongyang has promised to send a total of around 10,000 troops to Russia, and the deployment is expected to be completed by. December.
Last week the NIS announced that North Korea had sent 1,500 of its special forces soldiers to the Russian Far East to train and familiarize themselves with local military bases and may be sent to fight in Ukraine.
The NIS announced today that Pyongyang is sending “large numbers” of troops to support Russia in its war in Ukraine, in the context of a military alliance with Moscow that could affect the security balance on the Korean peninsula.
The Kremlin has dismissed these claims of North Korean troop deployment as “fake news” and the North Korean envoy to the United Nations has called them “baseless rumours”.
Zakharova: “Ask Pyongyang!”
Today, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, commenting, said that Seoul, Kiev, Washington, which accuses Moscow of hosting North Korean soldiers on its soil, “should ask Pyongyang” where his troops.
“Where are the armed forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea? Ask Pyongyang!”said Zakharova.
A South Korean lawmaker said the Pyongyang authorities were trying to prevent news of the development from spreading.
“Over 600,000 Russians dead”
US officials say, speaking on condition of anonymity that Russia suffered over 600,000 dead and wounded soldiers in the war in Ukraine.
Austin said the alleged deployment of North Korean soldiers could be due to a lack of Russian recruits.
In addition today, Germany summoned North Korea’s envoy to Berlin today because of growing concerns that Pyongyang is increasing its support for Russia in the war in Ukraine, the foreign ministry in Berlin said.
“If the reports of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine are true and if North Korea is now supporting Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine with troops, this would be a serious matter and a violation of international law,” a said the German Foreign Ministry.
Source: AMPE