Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III confirmed on Wednesday that North Korea has deployed troops to Russia to support Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine, marking a significant shift in the conflict. Austin described the North Korean involvement as a “very serious” escalation with potential consequences for both Europe and Asia, reports the New York Times.
Unclear Troop Numbers and Role
Speaking to reporters at a military base in Italy, Austin expressed uncertainty about the exact role and number of North Korean troops involved, saying, “What exactly are they doing? Left to be seen.” He did not provide details on how many soldiers had already arrived or were expected.
U.S. Intelligence to Release Evidence of Troop Movements
American intelligence officials are preparing to release evidence, including satellite imagery, that reportedly shows troop ships moving from North Korea to training areas in Russia, particularly near Vladivostok and other regions in the north. While no North Korean troops have yet reached Ukraine, reports from Ukraine and South Korea suggest that as many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers may be training to join the fight.
Growing Reports of North Korean Deployment
American officials estimate that around 2,500 North Korean troops have already been dispatched to Russia. However, they remain uncertain about how many more may follow and how effective these troops will be, given the challenges of operating in unfamiliar territory with Russian forces speaking a different language.
Silence from the Kremlin
The Kremlin has yet to comment on the reports, and Russia has previously denied any North Korean troop involvement. Nonetheless, experts on Russia and North Korea view this as a pivotal moment, signaling Moscow’s desperation to avoid further domestic unrest over its mounting casualties, which U.S. officials estimate have exceeded 600,000 dead or wounded.
Kim Jong-un’s Geopolitical Ambitions
For North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, the Ukraine war presents an opportunity to break out of international isolation. By supplying both troops and over a million artillery rounds, Kim has become a critical player in the conflict. Experts believe that Kim’s ultimate goal is to enhance the capabilities of his intercontinental ballistic missiles and demonstrate that his nuclear arsenal can threaten American cities.
A New Era in Russian-North Korean Relations
Victor Cha, a North Korea expert from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, called the partnership between Putin and Kim a “real ‘no-limits partnership.'” He suggested that the involvement of North Korean soldiers in the conflict could raise Kim’s leverage, allowing him to extract significant concessions from Putin in the future.
Zelensky Comments on North Korean Troop Presence
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky framed North Korea’s involvement as a sign of Putin’s reluctance to initiate further domestic mobilization in Russia. “The reluctance to mobilize their own people is certainly increasing,” Zelensky said, noting that Russia is turning to foreign troops like North Koreans to avoid further unrest at home. “This indicates that the consequences of this war are already impacting Russian society,” Zelensky added.
