US "North Korean Troops Expected to Be Deployed Soon... Indicates Russia's Desperation"

"8,000 Troops Deployed in Kursk for Military Training"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The U.S. government has estimated that 8,000 North Korean troops are deployed in Kursk, a major battleground on Russian soil, undergoing military training and are expected to be deployed in combat against Ukraine within days.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated at a press conference on the 31st (local time) after the 6th U.S.-South Korea Foreign and Defense Ministers' Meeting (2+2) held at the U.S. Department of State building in Washington, D.C., "Russia has trained North Korean troops in basic infantry operations including artillery, drones, and trench assaults, and we expect them to join the fight against Ukraine within days." Kursk, located near the Ukraine border in southwestern Russia, is considered one of the fiercest battlegrounds along with eastern Ukraine.

Secretary Blinken explained that Russia's reliance on North Korean forces is due to "desperation." He added, "Putin (Russian President) is throwing more and more Russians into the 'meat grinder' he created in Ukraine," and "he is bringing in North Korean soldiers to replace the 1,200 Russian soldiers dying every day."

He further noted, "This situation, where North Korean troops are being dispatched to Russia and are expected to participate in combat, marks the first time in 100 years that Russia has deployed foreign soldiers on its own soil."

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also stated that Russia's use of North Korean mercenaries indicates a weakening of Russian power. He warned, "Let me be clear, if North Korean troops participate in combat or combat support operations in Ukraine, they will become legitimate military targets." He added, "Even if North Korean troops participate in combat against Ukraine, they could defend Kursk," and explained, "The 10,000 troops would replace Russian losses, but 10,000 troops is not significant compared to Russian military casualties."

Secretary Austin also emphasized, "Under President (Joe Biden)'s directive, the U.S. will continue to expand security assistance to Ukraine," and "additional security assistance will be announced within the next few days." In response to a question about the possibility that advanced Russian technology was installed on the intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launched by North Korea the previous day, he replied, "We are currently in the early stages of assessment, and so far there is no indication of Russian involvement."

Meanwhile, a European Union (EU) official expressed concern regarding North Korea's deployment to Russia, calling it "the first example showing how increasing North Korea-Russia cooperation in the Ukraine war could have tangible effects on Northeast Asia."

Roland Honekamp, Head of the Korea-Japan Division at the EU External Action Service, stated at the "Korea-EU Mutual Perception Survey" presentation hosted by the Korean Embassy in Belgium at Leuven University in Belgium that "Ukraine is fighting for its survival, the Middle East situation is also in crisis, and now potential instability is emerging in Northeast Asia as well."