North Korea Deploys 8,000 Troops Near Ukraine Border; US Warns of Imminent Combat Involvement

US Officials Warn of Escalating Tensions as North Korean Troops Prepare for Combat Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict

Speaking at a press conference in Washington, Blinken indicated that North Korea sent around 10,000 troops to Russia, with most stationed in the Kursk region on Ukraine’s border. After undergoing Russian-led training in artillery, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), and infantry operations, the North Korean troops are expected to join the frontline.

The U.S. has reported that approximately 8,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Russia near Ukraine’s border, with plans for deployment into combat “in the coming days,” according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This potential deployment could mark the first large-scale engagement of foreign troops in the Russia-Ukraine war since it began in February 2022.

“A Sign of Weakness”

Blinken suggested that Moscow’s reliance on foreign forces highlights Russia’s struggle to maintain its own military strength in Ukraine.

“Putin is sending more Russians into a meat grinder of his own making, and now he’s turning to North Korean troops,”

Blinken stated, adding that the deployment underscores Russia’s weakened position.

The Biden administration has urged Beijing to intervene, as China has maintained close ties with both Russia and North Korea. While Beijing has pledged a “no limits” partnership with Moscow, experts suggest China may view this collaboration between Russia and North Korea as destabilizing.

Rising Tensions on Multiple Fronts

The report of North Korean forces in Russia comes just hours after Pyongyang test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile with a record flight time of 86 minutes. Experts believe the test signifies progress in North Korea’s missile capabilities, potentially linked to an agreement for Russian military technology in exchange for North Korean support in Ukraine.

Warnings from the US and NATO Allies

In response, U.S. officials from the White House, State Department, and Pentagon have warned that if North Korean troops enter Ukraine in support of Russia, they will become legitimate military targets.

“If Pyongyang’s forces enter Ukraine, they will surely return in body bags,”

a U.S. envoy stated ahead of a UN Security Council meeting.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed these concerns, warning that the presence of North Korean soldiers is intended as a test of U.S. and South Korean responses. Zelenskyy indicated that North Korea might send additional forces based on how NATO and South Korea react.

“With this deployment, Putin is testing the response of NATO and South Korea,” Zelenskyy stated. “He wants to see if we’re willing to counter these forces or stand by.”

The Pentagon and South Korea’s defense ministry issued strong warnings on Thursday, urging North Korea to withdraw its forces from Russia, with the U.S. defense secretary Lloyd Austin stressing that North Korean troops in Ukraine would be “co-belligerents” and legitimate targets in the conflict.

Escalating Conflict Ahead

As tensions rise in both Eastern Europe and East Asia, Blinken’s comments underscore the potential for this situation to transform the largest land war in Europe since WWII into a wider, multi-region conflict with implications for both NATO and Asia.