North Korean Troops Head to Russia’s Kursk Region Amid⁣ Ukrainian​ Offensive

A contingent of North Korean troops ​is en route to Russia’s Kursk ‌region to aid Moscow in ⁤combating a Ukrainian offensive that ⁢commenced in August, according to a US administration official.

This development ⁤follows a statement⁣ from National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on October 25, shedding light on the potential deployment of‌ North Korean troops to the Kursk region.

As reported by ‌the Wall Street Journal, Kirby noted that North Korean troops stationed at multiple ⁤training ranges in eastern Russia are likely to be dispatched to Kursk, although their specific purpose remains unclear.

Uncertainty Surrounds the Deployment

“It ​is possible that at ⁣least some of these‌ North Korean troops are stationed ‌in the Kursk area. But ⁤in⁤ what capacity, for what purpose, that’s still unclear,” Kirby stated.

This marks the first public confirmation from the United States that North Korean troops ⁤may soon be deployed to Kursk, following a‍ statement from Ukrainian military intelligence that the initial Russian-trained units had already moved into ⁤the region.

Troop Numbers and Training

US officials initially estimated that approximately 3,000 North Korean military personnel were⁣ training in Russia, but Kirby ‍noted that the⁣ total may now be higher.

According to South ⁤Korean intelligence, the number of ‍North⁤ Korean troops in Russia‌ could reach 10,000 by​ December, highlighting the potential scale of the deployment.