North Korea has deployed troops to Russia, the United States confirmed on Wednesday, marking the first public acknowledgment of a move that has alarmed Western allies and could escalate Moscow’s conflict in Ukraine significantly.
“There is evidence of DPRK troops in Russia,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated to reporters in Rome, referring to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“What exactly they’re doing remains unclear,” Austin noted, adding, “We’re working to gather more information on the situation.” He emphasized that it is a “serious issue” if North Korea intends to engage in the war on Russia’s behalf.
Austin’s remarks followed recent alarms raised by South Korea and Ukraine, which shared intelligence and expressed frustration over what they perceive as a lack of urgency in the response from the U.S. and other Western nations.
