The Pentagon has stated that North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia are prepared to fight against Ukrainian forces.
“Based on what [North Korean troops] are trained to do and the way they have been integrated into Russian formations, I fully expect to see them engaged in combat soon,” U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Friday.
The Pentagon chief mentioned that he had “not seen any significant reports” of North Korean troops “actively engaged in combat” up to that point.
South Korean government officials and a research organization reported this week that Moscow is offering fuel, anti-aircraft missiles, and economic aid to Pyongyang in exchange for the troops it has provided for the fight.
Meanwhile, Kyiv warned that Russia has gathered around 50,000 soldiers, including several thousand from North Korea, to recapture areas in the Kursk region occupied by the Ukrainian army.
