The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, recently stated in a press conference that approximately 8,000 North Korean troops have been deployed in the Kursk region to engage with Ukrainian forces. Blinken expressed concerns about potential conflicts between Ukraine and North Korean soldiers in the near future, emphasizing that Russia’s decision to involve North Korean troops indicates a sense of desperation on Putin’s part.
In the past weeks, Russia has been training the North Korean soldiers in various military operations, including the use of drones, artillery, and trench clearing, suggesting Putin’s intention to fully utilize Pyongyang’s troops in the ongoing conflict. While Ukrainian forces have warned against underestimating the North Korean troops located just 30 miles from the Ukrainian border, Blinken emphasized that if these troops engage in combat operations, they would become legitimate military targets.
According to intelligence reports, there are a total of 10,000 DPRK soldiers in Russia, with 8,000 stationed in the Kursk Oblast region near the Ukrainian border. The Pentagon chief, Lloyd Austin, expressed his concerns about North Korean troops fighting for Putin, highlighting the challenges Russia has faced in the conflict and the inability of these troops to fully replace the losses suffered by Russian forces.
Overall, the deployment of North Korean troops in the Kursk region raises significant concerns about the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and the potential for further violence in the coming days. The involvement of foreign troops in the conflict adds a new layer of complexity to an already volatile situation, and the international community will be closely monitoring developments to ensure the safety and security of all parties involved.
