US warns that 8,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed near Ukraine
- 31 October, 11:43
The US has warned that around 8,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed near Russia’s border with Ukraine and will soon join Kremlin’s war against Kyiv soon.
Antony Blinken said during a press conference on Thursday that Pyongyang has sent to Russia up to 10,000 troops that will first be deployed to training bases in the country’s far east regions before their deployment to Ukraine.
“We have not yet seen these troops deploy into combat against Ukrainian forces but we would expect that to happen in the coming days,” Blinken said. He stressed that North Korean troops have been receiving training on “basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, indicating that they fully intend to use these forces in front-line operations”. Earlier, Secretary Lloyd Austin said only “some” troops had moved towards Ukraine’s border in the Kursk region. US Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood also told the Security Council that the US that there was information about the presence of 8,000 North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk region.
North Korean troops’ participation in Russia’s war in Ukraine has raised concerns around the world. Ukrainian President has urged international response to Pyongyang-Moscow military cooperation, warning that this partnership will expand the war.
