South Korea and Ukraine have estimated some 12,000 North Korean soldiers will be sent to Russia, with 3,000 already deployed.
Topline
The years-long Russia-Ukraine war could soon escalate with the direct involvement of North Korean forces, U.S. officials suggested this week, alleging there is evidence thousands of troops were deployed to Russia, as South Korea to vow to take action against its longtime enemy.Key Facts
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday there is evidence of North Korean troops receiving training in Russia, with White House national security spokesman John Kirby telling reporters that same day the U.S. believes 3,000 North Korean soldiers traveled to Russia via ship.
It’s not clear if the North Koreans have entered the war against Ukraine, but Kirby said deployment of North Korean troops on the battlefield would make them “legitimate military targets.”
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun’s office told NBC News it expects North Korea to bolster Russia with artillery troops, military engineers and special forces who will eventually number around 12,000.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol told reporters Thursday the country could potentially directly supply Ukraine with weapons “depending on North Korea’s military activities,” which would mark a shift for South Korea, which has limited itself to not sending arms straight to Ukraine, instead sending ammunition to the country via the U.
