US: "10,000 North Korean Troops Moving to Kursk... Possible Combat Participation Within Days"

The U.S. government announced on the 4th (local time) that at least 10,000 North Korean troops have moved to Kursk, Russia, a fierce battleground between Russia and Ukraine.

Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said at a briefing that "(Secretary of State Tony Blinken) said last week that 8,000 North Korean troops had gone to Kursk, but now we assess that the number of North Korean troops in Kursk has reached 10,000."

When asked whether North Korean troops are already engaged in combat in Kursk, Miller responded, "We have seen media reports that they are fighting," but added, "We cannot say definitively." He further stated, "As we have disclosed, it is highly likely that they will enter combat against Ukrainian forces, and if they do so, they will become legitimate military (attack) targets."

Pat Ryder, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, also confirmed at a briefing that the number of North Korean troops in Kursk is 10,000. He explained, "As we assess the presence of North Korean troops on the ground, we recognize that the number may increase slightly," and added, "We believe the total North Korean troop strength in Russia has approached between 11,000 and 12,000." Regarding whether North Korean troops are deployed as independent units conducting operations, he said, "We do not know at this time." He also mentioned that investigations are ongoing concerning reports of engagements.

On the same day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced in an evening speech that 11,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Kursk, which is more than initially estimated. Kursk, located in southwestern Russia, is a border area where Ukrainian forces entered on August 6 and have occupied some territory while engaging Russian forces.

President Zelensky expressed regret over the Western allies' lack of active response, saying, "We see the number of North Korean troops increasing," but "the reaction of our partners has not increased." He also emphasized that if Ukraine is authorized to use Western long-range weapons, it could launch a preemptive strike on the camps where the North Korean troops are concentrated.