US White House: "North Korea Deploys at Least 3,000 Troops to Russia... North Korean Forces Are Legitimate Military Targets"

"Training in Eastern Russia"

The White House officially confirmed North Korea's deployment of troops to Russia and warned Pyongyang on the 23rd (local time) that it would suffer losses if it sends forces to the Ukrainian battlefield.

John Kirby, White House National Security Communications Coordinator, stated at a briefing that "we believe North Korea moved at least 3,000 troops to eastern Russia in early to mid-October."

He explained, "We understand that North Korean troops traveled by ship from Wonsan, North Korea, to Vladivostok, Russia," adding, "Afterward, the North Korean troops moved to multiple training facilities in eastern Russia and are currently undergoing training." He further said, "It is uncertain whether North Korean troops will engage in combat alongside Russian forces, but there is concern about that possibility," and added, "After completing their training, North Korean troops could move to western Russia and engage Ukrainian forces."

Regarding the impact of North Korea's troop deployment on the Ukraine war, Kirby said it was too early to assess. However, he warned, "If North Korean forces are deployed to fight in Ukraine, they will be considered ‘fair game,’" and "Ukrainian forces will defend themselves against North Korean troops just as they do against Russian forces." He added, "There will definitely be North Korean soldiers who die or are injured while fighting against Ukraine." He also pointed out that Russian and North Korean forces will have to overcome language barriers and command and control issues.

On what North Korea might receive in return for its deployment to Russia, Kirby said, "We are very concerned not only about the impact of the deployment on the Ukraine war but also about its effects on the Indo-Pacific region."

The U.S. government is discussing response measures with allies, including Ukraine, regarding North Korea's troop deployment to Russia. It plans to expand security support for Ukraine and announce significant sanctions within days against those aiding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Additionally, Kirby pointed out that North Korea's troop deployment likely violates United Nations (UN) Security Council resolutions. He emphasized that the U.S. is communicating with China about North Korea's deployment and sharing its position.

Earlier, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin became the first U.S. government official to confirm North Korean troop deployment to Russia. Speaking in Rome, Italy, Austin said, "There is evidence that Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) forces are in Russia." When asked about North Korea's intentions, he responded, "We will have to see exactly what they are doing," adding, "This is something we need to understand."

With Ukraine and the South Korean government accepting North Korea's troop deployment to Russia as a fait accompli, the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) had expressed concern but had not confirmed the facts until now. According to South Korea's National Intelligence Service, about 3,000 North Korean troops have currently moved to Russia, and the total deployment is expected to reach around 10,000 by December.