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| ▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (in leather jacket) waves toward soldiers during a visit to a special operations unit's training base in western Pyongyang on Oct. 2, 2024, a day after South Korea's Armed Forces Day, in this file photo provided by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) |
US-NK troop dispatch-Russia
U.S. voices concern over N. Korea's reported troop dispatch to support Russia in war against Ukraine
By Song Sang-ho
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (Yonhap) -- A White House National Security Council spokesperson expressed concerns Friday over North Korea's reported dispatch of troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, after Seoul's spy agency confirmed the deployment.
On Friday (Seoul time), South Korea's National Intelligence Service confirmed the North has decided to send around 12,000 troops to support Russia in the war and has already begun deployment of approximately 1,500 soldiers to Vladivostok.
"We are concerned by reports of DPRK soldiers fighting on behalf of Russia, which if true would mark a significant increase in the DPRK-Russia defense relationship," Sean Savett, the spokesperson, said in response to a question from Yonhap News Agency. DPRK stands for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
"Such a move would also indicate a new level of desperation for Russia as it continues to suffer significant casualties on the battlefield in its brutal war against Ukraine."
Russia is known to have been averaging more than 1,200 casualties per day in recent months.
The spokesperson's remarks are similar to those made earlier by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby and State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
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