Russia-Ukraine Conflict on Brink of Escalation: 10,000 North Korean Troops Deployed to Aid Putin’s War Effort

U.S. Department of Defense Spokesperson Shen HeSabrina Singh) said on Monday (10th) that North Korea has dispatched about 280,000 soldiers to Russia for training and are expected to go to Ukraine to participate in the war in the coming weeks.

According to an Associated Press report, Shin noted that some North Korean officers and soldiers are now close to the Ukrainian border. She said the United States is increasingly concerned that Russia will use these North Korean officers and soldiers to participate directly in combat or to support military operations against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region.

“If you see North Korean troops advancing to the front lines, they are a common belligerent in the Russo-Ukrainian war,” Sinh said.

At the same time, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) also issued a warning about this situation. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte confirmed to reporters on the 28th that North Korean troops had been dispatched to Russia and deployed in the Kusk region.

Prime Minister Rutte said that this measure “means that the risk of Russia’s war of aggression has expanded further,” and pointed out, “Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approach to seeking North Korea’s participation in the war shows that he is feeling increasingly desperate.” Rutte also noted that the number of Russian military casualties since the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war has exceeded 60 and that without support from foreign troops, the Kremlin may not be able to sustain its aggressive actions against Ukraine.