Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin says North Korea has deployed troops to Russia

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said North Korea has deployed troops to Russia, the first senior US official to confirm the development on the record, as North Korea and Russia have forged increasingly friendly ties since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said North Korea has deployed troops to Russia, the first senior US official to confirm the development on the record, as North Korea and Russia have forged increasingly friendly ties since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. “We are seeing evidence that that there are North Korean troops that have gone to Russia,” Austin told reporters traveling with him in Rome on Wednesday. “What, exactly, they’re doing is left to be seen.” Ukraine and South Korea have alleged that North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to Russia to help Russia fight the Ukrainians. A US source familiar with the intelligence told CNN that “thousands” of North Korean troops are already in Russia. Austin said the US is still trying to determine what role the North Koreans will play in the conflict and whether they intend to travel to Ukraine. “If they’re a co-belligerent, their intention is to participate in this war on Russia’s behalf, that is a very, very serious issue, and it will have impacts not only on in Europe — It will also impact things in the Indo Pacific as well,” Austin said. Asked what North Korea will get in return for helping Russia with manpower, Austin said the US is still trying to determine that as well.