In a startling development in the Russia-Ukraine war, the United States expects thousands of North Korean troops massing in Russia to “soon” enter combat against Ukraine, according to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Speaking to reporters, Austin said about 10,000 North Korean soldiers are currently based in the Russian border region of Kursk, where they are being “integrated into the Russian formations.”
“Based upon what they’ve been trained on, the way they’ve been integrated into the Russian formations, I fully expect to see them engaged in combat soon,” the Pentagon chief warned. He noted that while there has not been significant reporting of these North Korean troops being “actively engaged in combat” thus far, their deployment and integration with Russian forces suggests their impending involvement on the battlefield.
Russia Repays North Korea with Weapons for Troop Deployment
The revelation comes as intelligence officials in South Korea said Russia has sent air defense missiles and other advanced military technology to North Korea in return for Pyongyang’s troop deployment to bolster Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine. Experts believe this arrangement, in which North Korea’s dispatch of troops and weapons from its vast stockpiles is being repaid with Russian oil and cutting-edge military equipment, represents a mutually beneficial deal for the two pariah states.
The Russian defense ministry claimed its forces recently captured the settlement of Novodmytrivka in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, the latest gain in what Defense Minister Andrei Belousov described as an accelerated advance. While Ukraine’s military made no mention of this village north of the key town of Kurakhove, its general staff reported heavy fighting gripping the Kurakhove sector, with 10 out of 35 armed clashes in the area still raging.
Putin Warns of More Oreshnik Missile Tests After Strike on Ukraine
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that Russia will carry out more tests of its new Oreshnik missile in combat and has a stock ready for use. This comes a day after Moscow fired the experimental, nuclear-capable ballistic missile on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in what the Kremlin said was designed to warn the West that Russia would respond to moves by the US and UK to allow Kyiv to strike Russia with their missiles.
Ukraine is working on developing new types of air defense to counter “new risks” following Russia’s deployment of the Oreshnik ballistic missile.
– Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged world leaders to “respond firmly and decisively” to the Russian missile strike, stating that his country is working on developing new types of air defense to counter “new risks” posed by Russia’s latest weapons.
Ukraine Cancels Parliament Session Amid Fears of Russian Missile Attack
The escalating missile threat has put Kyiv on high alert, with Ukraine’s parliament canceling its Friday session, citing the risk of a Russian missile attack on the district housing government buildings. MP Yevgenia Kravchuk said the question hour with the government had been called off due to “signals of an increased risk of attacks on the government district in the coming days.”
In other developments, Ukraine accused Russian forces of executing five Ukrainian prisoners of war during an incident in the east last month, with the prosecutor general’s office claiming Russian troops shot and killed the unarmed soldiers after capturing them near Vuhledar town.
As the war grinds on, Western allies are standing firm in their support for Ukraine. The UK’s Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Britain will continue to see “aggressive language” from Putin but vowed to “do everything that is necessary” to help Ukraine combat Russia. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock echoed this sentiment, stating that supporting Ukraine’s self-defense is the “best protection” for peace in Europe.
The deployment of North Korean troops adds a new, concerning dimension to the conflict as Russia doubles down on its assault despite setbacks. As the world watches anxiously, the coming days and weeks could prove pivotal in the trajectory of this devastating war.
