About 8,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in the Kursk region, near the border with Ukraine, preparing to assist Russia in the conflict, according to the U.S. government report on October 31. In a United Nations Security Council meeting, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood expressed concern over military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, mentioning the presence of North Korean troops on Russian territory.
"We have just received information that there are about 8,000 soldiers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in Kursk Oblast," Wood declared during the meeting. The Russian representative at the session, convened by Moscow to discuss international peace and security, did not respond to the question regarding the presence of North Korean troops in Russia.
According to U.S. estimates, there are around 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia, with some of them deployed in Kursk. Although there have been no direct clashes observed with Ukrainian forces, such confrontations are expected to occur in the coming days, as mentioned by Blinken at a joint press conference.
North Korean troops, dressed in Russian uniforms and local equipment, have moved towards Ukraine, which has been labeled a dangerous and destabilizing act by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. It is noted that Russia is training North Korean soldiers in various military areas, preparing them for potential frontline combat.
The military and nuclear cooperation agreement between North Korea and Russia has raised international concerns, particularly in discussions between the United States and South Korea. The South Korean Foreign Minister has strongly condemned the deployment of North Korean troops, warning of the consequences this could entail for the Asia-Pacific region, as well as for the conflict in Ukraine.
