Soldiers from North Korea wear Russian uniforms as they make their way to Ukraine.

During a press conference in Washington, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his concern about the recent movement of North Korean troops towards Ukraine. According to Austin, these troops are dressed in Russian uniforms and equipped with Russian weapons, which is a troubling and destabilizing development.

The topic was discussed at the press conference, which also included South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Both leaders are growing increasingly worried about Pyongyang's deployment of up to 11,000 troops to Russia. It is believed that some of these troops are heading towards the Kursk region, which shares a border with Ukraine. This is an area where Russian forces have been struggling to contain a Ukrainian incursion.

Austin stated that there is a high possibility that these North Korean troops will be used in combat by Russia. This has raised concerns around the world, as leaders fear that it could escalate the conflict in Ukraine and result in increased military aid being provided to North Korea by Russia.

The US and its allies are currently discussing how to handle this situation. Austin acknowledged that the deployment of North Korean troops could potentially expand or prolong the conflict in Ukraine. When asked if it could lead to other nations getting involved, he admitted that it is a possibility but did not provide further details.

"We will continue to monitor this situation closely and work with our allies and partners to deter Russia from using these troops in combat," Austin stated.

Kim added that while he does not believe this deployment will directly trigger war on the Korean Peninsula, it does pose a threat to security. There is a concern that North Korea may use this as an opportunity to request advanced military technology, such as tactical nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, in exchange for its troops.

Both leaders called on North Korea to withdraw its troops from Russia. It is believed that Russia had to redirect some of its resources to the Kursk border region in response to Ukraine's offensive. The US has suggested that this could be a sign of Russia's military weakening after being at war for over two years.

"Putin has lost a lot of troops, and that is why they are turning to North Korea for support," Austin explained. He noted that Russia has been seeking military assistance from other countries, including North Korea and Iran.

According to US estimates, there are currently 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia. However, South Korean officials believe that this number has increased to 11,000. More than 3,000 of these troops are believed to have been deployed to combat zones in western Russia, although the exact locations were not disclosed.

In addition, a Ukrainian official revealed that North Korean troops are stationed just 50 kilometers away from the Ukrainian border with Russia. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not provide any further details but confirmed that this information is not yet public.

[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]