U.S. officials have suggested that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war could potentially escalate with the direct involvement of North Korean forces, with evidence pointing to thousands of troops being deployed to Russia. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that there is evidence of North Korean troops receiving training in Russia, while White House national security spokesman John Kirby revealed that the U.S. believes 3,000 North Korean soldiers traveled to Russia via ship. The deployment of North Korean troops on the battlefield could make them legitimate military targets, according to Kirby.
South Korea is expected to support Russia with artillery troops, military engineers, and special forces, with estimates suggesting these forces could eventually number around 12,000. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol indicated that South Korea could potentially supply weapons directly to Ukraine, depending on North Korea’s military activities. This marks a significant shift for South Korea, which has previously limited itself to sending ammunition to Ukraine via the U.S. and providing weapons to neighboring countries like Poland.
Both Russia and North Korea have denied reports of North Korean involvement in the conflict, with a Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman dismissing the claims as media propaganda. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not flatly deny the presence of North Korean troops. The U.S. has not deployed troops in Ukraine but has provided billions in aid to the country and offered training for its soldiers.
The relationship between Russia and North Korea dates back to the 20th century and has strengthened in recent years, with the two countries signing a defense treaty this summer. Russia has faced sanctions from the West due to its invasion of Ukraine, leading it to look for economic opportunities elsewhere. The U.S. and South Korea have accused North Korea and Russia of exchanging military aid, with accusations that North Korea unlawfully transferred ballistic missiles and munitions to aid Russia’s war effort.
Despite not sending its own troops to Ukraine, the U.S. has become one of the largest sources of military aid for the country, providing more than $64.1 billion in military assistance since the Russian invasion in 2022. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been ongoing for more than a decade, but escalated significantly in 2022 when Russian troops invaded Ukraine. The exact death toll on both sides remains unclear, with estimates varying between Ukrainian and Western intelligence sources. Ukraine’s offensive in Russia’s southwest region of Kursk and large-scale drone attacks on military and civilian targets in Moscow have intensified the conflict.
