U.S. Says North Korean Troops Are in Russia, Calling It ‘Very Serious’

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III confirmed connected Wednesday that North Korea had sent troops to Russia to subordinate nan conflict against Ukraine, a awesome displacement successful Moscow’s effort to triumph nan war. Mr. Austin called nan North’s beingness a “very serious” escalation that would person ramifications successful some Europe and Asia.

“What precisely are they doing?’’ Mr. Austin told reporters astatine a subject guidelines successful Italy. “Left to beryllium seen.” He gave nary specifications astir nan number of troops already location aliases nan number expected to arrive.

His connection came arsenic American intelligence officials said they were preparing to merchandise a trove of intelligence, including outer photographs, that show unit ships moving from North Korea to training areas successful Vladivostok connected Russia’s East coast, and different Russian territory further to nan north. No troops person yet reached Ukraine, nan intelligence officials said.

For 2 weeks, location person been reports of nan movements, fueled by nan Ukrainian and South Korean governments, that upward of 12,000 North Koreans were training to conflict alongside Russian soldiers.

American officials person said they estimate that astir 2,500 North Korean troops person been dispatched truthful far. But they made nary estimate of really galore much would follow, aliases moreover really good they mightiness execute connected territory nan North’s conscripts person ne'er fought in, amid chap fighters who speak a different language.

There was nary contiguous remark from nan Kremlin. Russia has earlier denied earlier reports connected North Korea’s unit presence.

Anatoly Kurmanaev contributed reporting from Berlin.