Amid concerns raised by South Korea and Ukraine, the United States confirmed that North Korea has sent troops to Russia, potentially escalating the conflict in Ukraine. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin noted that there is evidence of North Korean troops in Russia, although their exact activities remain unclear. South Korean lawmakers stated that 3,000 troops have been sent, with more expected to be deployed by December. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that North Korean troops could be trained for deployment in Russia. Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov of Ukraine mentioned that North Korean troops could arrive in the Kursk region, prompting South Korea to demand their withdrawal. The U.S. is considering providing military aid to Ukraine in response to the development, with State Department officials expressing concern about the implications of North Korean involvement. The U.S. believes that North Korea is supplying Russia with munitions, potentially strengthening Kim Jong Un’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Both Russia and North Korea deny these claims. The alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow has raised alarms among Western allies, highlighting the complex dynamics at play in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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