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Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that North Korea has sent troops to Russia, marking a potential escalation of Moscow’s war in Ukraine. South Korea and Ukraine have raised concerns about the lack of urgency in response from Western countries regarding this development. South Korean lawmakers stated that 3,000 North Korean troops had been sent to Russia out of a promised 10,000 by December. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that two units of North Korean troops were being trained for deployment. Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence stated that North Korean troops could arrive in Russia’s Kursk region as early as Wednesday.
South Korea has demanded the withdrawal of North Korean soldiers from Russia and is considering providing defensive weapons to Ukraine in response to the situation. The United States is also consulting with allies and partners on the implications of this development. It is believed that North Korea is supplying Moscow with munitions in exchange for military technology, which could potentially bolster North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Both Russia and North Korea deny any transfer of arms. Austin did not mention the reports during his visit to Kyiv but announced $400 million in new military aid to Ukraine. The situation is being closely monitored as the potential alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow continues to evolve.
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