Ukraine will not face any special restrictions on the potential use of U.S. weaponry against North Korean troops sent to fight for Russia, a Pentagon spokesperson has said.
NATO has said North Korean military units have been deployed to Russia’s southwestern Kursk region, into which Ukraine launched a surprise incursion in August. Kyiv’s forces are still present there.
The North Korea deployment is fanning Western concerns that the 2-1/2-year conflict in Ukraine could widen, even as attention shifts to the Middle East.
It could signal that Russia hopes to offset mounting battlefield losses and continue making slow, steady gains in eastern Ukraine.
"The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a threat to both Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security," NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters after talks with a South Korean delegation about the North Korean deployments.
U.S. President Joe Biden said the development was "very dangerous."
The Pentagon estimated that 10,000 North Korean troops had been deployed to eastern Russia for training, up from an estimate of 3,000 troops last Wednesday.
"A portion of those soldiers have already moved closer to Ukraine, and we are increasingly concerned that Russia intends to use these soldiers in combat or to support combat operations against Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk Oblast near the border with Ukraine," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, using a term for a Russian region.
The North Korea deployment is fanning Western concerns that the 2-1/2-year conflict in Ukraine could widen, even as attention shifts to the Middle East.
It could signal that Russia hopes to offset mounting battlefield losses and continue making slow, steady gains in eastern Ukraine.
"The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a threat to both Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic security," NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told reporters after talks with a South Korean delegation about the North Korean deployments.
‘Very dangerous' development
U.S. President Joe Biden said the development was "very dangerous."
The Pentagon estimated that 10,000 North Korean troops had been deployed to eastern Russia for training, up from an estimate of 3,000 troops last Wednesday.
"A portion of those soldiers have already moved closer to Ukraine, and we are increasingly concerned that Russia intends to use these soldiers in combat or to support combat operations against Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk Oblast near the border with Ukraine," said Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh, using a term for a Russian region.
The Kremlin had initially dismissed reports about a North Korean deployment as "fake news." However, President Vladimir Putin did not deny the presence of North Korean troops in Russia on Thursday and said it was Moscow's business how to implement a partnership treaty with Pyongyang.
The Russian leader also said over the weekend that Moscow will respond accordingly if the U.S. and its allies help Ukraine to strike deep into Russia, with Moscow seeing the West's potential approval as "direct involvement of NATO" in the war.
In response to a journalist’s question on whether limits would apply on the use of U.S.-provided weaponry against North Korean forces, Singh replied: “No... if we see DPRK [North Korean] troops moving in and towards the front lines, I mean, they are co-belligerents in the war. And so, they are fighting on these front lines and the Ukrainians are defending their sovereign territory and pushing the Russians back.”
The United States, however, has given no indication that it will approve Ukraine's deep strike request.
A North Korean foreign ministry official did not confirm media reports about a troop deployment to Russia but said if Pyongyang had taken such action, he believed it would be in line with international norms.
Ukrainian military intelligence said on Thursday that the first North Korean units had been recorded in the Kursk border region.
The Russian leader also said over the weekend that Moscow will respond accordingly if the U.S. and its allies help Ukraine to strike deep into Russia, with Moscow seeing the West's potential approval as "direct involvement of NATO" in the war.
In response to a journalist’s question on whether limits would apply on the use of U.S.-provided weaponry against North Korean forces, Singh replied: “No... if we see DPRK [North Korean] troops moving in and towards the front lines, I mean, they are co-belligerents in the war. And so, they are fighting on these front lines and the Ukrainians are defending their sovereign territory and pushing the Russians back.”
The United States, however, has given no indication that it will approve Ukraine's deep strike request.
A North Korean foreign ministry official did not confirm media reports about a troop deployment to Russia but said if Pyongyang had taken such action, he believed it would be in line with international norms.
Ukrainian military intelligence said on Thursday that the first North Korean units had been recorded in the Kursk border region.
But the Pentagon declined to confirm that North Korean forces were already in Kursk.
"It is likely that they are moving in that direction towards Kursk. But I don't have more details just yet," Singh said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the move was an escalation by Russia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added that Kyiv had been warning about the deployment for weeks and accused allies of failing to deliver a strong response.
"The bottom line: listen to Ukraine. The solution: lift restrictions on our long-range strikes against Russia now," he said on X.
Since their leaders met in Russia's Far East last year, North Korea and Russia have upgraded their military ties. They met again in June to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership that includes a mutual defense pact.
A flurry of bilateral visits of high-ranking officials has followed between the two countries, which share a small piece of border. North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui departed Pyongyang on Monday for her second trip to Russia in six weeks.
NATO chief Rutte said the deployment of North Korean troops was a sign of "growing desperation" on Putin's part.
"Over 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Putin’s war and he is unable to sustain his assault on Ukraine without foreign support," Rutte added.
The Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said sanctions alone would not be a sufficient response to North Korean involvement.
He added that Kyiv needs "weapons and a clear plan to prevent North Korea's expanded involvement."
"The enemy understands strength. Our allies have this strength," Yermak said on X.
"It is likely that they are moving in that direction towards Kursk. But I don't have more details just yet," Singh said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the move was an escalation by Russia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added that Kyiv had been warning about the deployment for weeks and accused allies of failing to deliver a strong response.
'Listen to Ukraine'
"The bottom line: listen to Ukraine. The solution: lift restrictions on our long-range strikes against Russia now," he said on X.
Since their leaders met in Russia's Far East last year, North Korea and Russia have upgraded their military ties. They met again in June to sign a comprehensive strategic partnership that includes a mutual defense pact.
A flurry of bilateral visits of high-ranking officials has followed between the two countries, which share a small piece of border. North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui departed Pyongyang on Monday for her second trip to Russia in six weeks.
NATO chief Rutte said the deployment of North Korean troops was a sign of "growing desperation" on Putin's part.
"Over 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Putin’s war and he is unable to sustain his assault on Ukraine without foreign support," Rutte added.
The Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said sanctions alone would not be a sufficient response to North Korean involvement.
He added that Kyiv needs "weapons and a clear plan to prevent North Korea's expanded involvement."
"The enemy understands strength. Our allies have this strength," Yermak said on X.
More In Politics MORE...
