Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has confirmed that there are North Korean troops in Russia, but it remains unclear if they are preparing to become a co-belligerent in Russia’s war on Ukraine. Austin stated that evidence shows North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia, but their exact intentions are yet to be determined. The United States is working to gather more information on why the North Korean troops are in Russia, as their participation in the conflict on Russia’s behalf would have significant implications not only in Europe but also in the Indo-Pacific region.
South Korean leaders are closely monitoring the situation involving North Korean troops in Russia. North Korea is one of Russia’s few open allies in the war on Ukraine, having previously supplied arms and munitions to Russia. The presence of North Korean troops in Russia is seen as a concerning development by U.S. officials, as it could potentially escalate the conflict further. Austin emphasized the seriousness of the situation and the need to continue investigating the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia.
President Vladimir Putin has faced significant casualties in his war on Ukraine, with U.S. officials reporting that Russia has lost over 300,000 service members since the conflict began in February 2022. This high number of casualties indicates that Putin may be facing more difficulties than previously thought. Austin highlighted Putin’s efforts to secure additional support from countries like North Korea and Iran, suggesting that the deployment of North Korean troops could be part of an attempt to bolster Russia’s forces in Ukraine.
Austin’s comments came at the end of a trip where he participated in NATO and G-7 defense ministerial meetings, visited Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and met with Pope Francis in the Vatican. The Pope expressed concerns about the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, emphasizing the importance of humanitarian issues and the need for a ceasefire in both regions. Austin echoed the Pope’s desire for a de-escalation of conflicts and stressed the importance of international cooperation in addressing ongoing crises.
