US Expresses "Concern" Over Reports of North Korean Troops Deployed to Ukraine

The U.S. administration under Joe Biden expressed concern on the 15th (local time) over reports that North Korea has deployed troops to support Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

John Kirby, National Security Communications Coordinator at the White House National Security Council (NSC), said during a phone briefing that when asked whether they could verify the accuracy of the related media reports, "We cannot independently verify the accuracy of those reports." He added, "These reports cause us concern," and stated, "If the idea that North Korean soldiers are fighting for Russia is true, it would indicate a significant strengthening of the North Korea-Russia defense relationship."

Kirby also commented, "If the reports are true, this could be classified as a new level of desperation shown by Putin (Russian President Vladimir Putin), who is trying to make progress in Ukraine." He noted, "While we are not confirming the reports, they come at a time when Russia is suffering at an exceptionally historic level in modern warfare, with over 1,000 casualties per day in recent months."

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, also expressed concern during a briefing, saying, "We are concerned about reports that North Korean soldiers are fighting for Russia," and commented that if the reports are true, they demonstrate a deepening of North Korea-Russia relations along with the level of desperation Russia is experiencing in the struggling Ukraine war.

Earlier, Ukrainian media reported that the Russian military has formed and is operating a battalion-sized unit of about 3,000 troops composed of North Korean forces. On the 3rd, there were also reports that among about 20 Russian casualties killed by Ukrainian missile attacks on the Donetsk front, six were North Korean soldiers.