Wed Oct 23 14:30:00 UTC 2024: On October 23, 2024, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reported evidence that North Korea has sent troops to Russia. The South Korean spy chief informed lawmakers that approximately 3,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia for training on drones and other military equipment before potentially being deployed in Ukraine. Austin expressed concern over the implications if these troops participate in the conflict on Russia’s side, describing it as a “very serious issue” that could affect both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.
Prior to this, intelligence revealed that the Russian navy had transported 1,500 North Korean special warfare troops to Russia, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had indicated that 10,000 North Korean soldiers were being readied for the Russian military. Though the U.S. and NATO had not officially confirmed these troop movements, they have cautioned about the risks associated with such developments. Both Russia and North Korea have denied these reports.
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