North Korean Troops in Russian Uniforms Reportedly Heading to Ukraine, Says U.S.

North Korean Troops in Russian Uniforms Reportedly Heading to Ukraine, Says U.S.

**North Korean Troops in Russian Uniforms Reportedly Heading to Ukraine, Says U.S.**

**WASHINGTON (AP)** — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reported Wednesday that North Korean troops, dressed in Russian uniforms and carrying Russian-issued equipment, are moving towards Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference alongside South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Austin called this development "dangerous and destabilizing" and expressed concerns over North Korea’s potential deployment of up to 12,000 troops to Russia.

According to U.S. and South Korean intelligence, some of these troops are reportedly en route to Russia’s Kursk region, near the Ukrainian border, where Russian forces have faced challenges against Ukrainian advances. Some North Korean units have already arrived in the Kursk area, and Austin suggested there is a "high likelihood" these troops will be deployed in combat.

This deepening alliance between North Korea and Russia has raised global alarm, with fears that it could escalate the war in Ukraine and prompt a new exchange of military technologies. Ukrainian U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya, addressing an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting, indicated that up to 4,500 North Korean troops may reach the border this week and potentially enter combat by November. Austin acknowledged the risk of a broader conflict and said officials are strategizing how to address the deployment.

Austin commented, "We’re going to keep a close watch on this and work with our allies to discourage Russia from deploying these troops in combat."

South Korean Defense Minister Kim voiced concern that while this deployment might not immediately threaten peace on the Korean Peninsula, it could amplify regional security risks. He suggested that Pyongyang could demand advanced technologies, such as tactical nuclear or ballistic missile capabilities, in exchange for its support.

Both Austin and Kim urged North Korea to recall its forces.

Russia has bolstered defenses in the Kursk region amid Ukraine’s ongoing offensive, with U.S. officials interpreting Moscow’s reliance on North Korean forces as an indication of depleted Russian military resources after more than two years of war.

“Putin’s resorting to outside help because he’s lost a significant portion of his forces,” Austin remarked, referencing Russia’s recent arms acquisitions from other countries, including North Korea and Iran.

The U.S. estimates that 10,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia, although some estimates run higher. Ukrainian Ambassador Kyslytsya reported to the U.N. that as many as 12,000 North Korean soldiers are training at Russian bases, including at least 500 officers and several high-ranking generals. These troops, Kyslytsya stated, are expected to receive Russian identity documents to obscure their presence and will likely be integrated into units with Russia's ethnic Asian minorities, such as the Buryats.

North Korea’s U.N. Ambassador Kim Song defended his nation’s alliance with Russia, asserting North Korea’s readiness to support Russia’s sovereignty if threatened.

Additionally, North Korea has reportedly supplied munitions to Russia. Recently, the White House shared images showing North Korea transporting 1,000 containers of military supplies to Russia by rail.

While it’s unclear what North Korea might gain in exchange for its troop deployment, U.S. and South Korean leaders have pledged to enhance their military collaboration, including nuclear deterrence and response capabilities, to address North Korean missile threats. Austin and Kim are scheduled to continue discussions with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul on Thursday at the State Department.