U.S. Defence Secretary Austin confirms North Korea despatched troops to Russia

U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin makes a speech at Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine in Kyiv on October 21, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: AP

U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday (October 23, 2024) stated that there’s proof that North Korea has despatched troops to Russia and South Korea’s spy chief instructed lawmakers that 3,000 North Korean troops are within the nation receiving coaching on drones and different tools earlier than being deployed to battlefields in Ukraine.

Mr. Austin instructed reporters “What precisely they’re doing? Left to be seen. These are issues that we have to type out,” based on a video posted by the Washington Submit.

If the troops be part of the battle in Ukraine on Russia’s aspect, will probably be “a really, very critical difficulty,” Mr. Austin stated, including it might have an effect in Europe and within the Indo-Pacific area.

South Korean intelligence first publicised stories that the Russian navy had taken 1,500 North Korean particular warfare troops to Russia final week, whereas Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had earlier stated his authorities had intelligence that 10,000 North Korea troopers have been being ready to hitch the invading Russian forces.

The U.S. and NATO had not beforehand formally confirmed North Korea’s reported troop dispatch, however have warned of the hazard of such a growth if true. Russia and North Korea have thus far denied the troop actions.