Pentagon says some North Korean troops in Russia's border region

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at an event in Baltimore, Maryland on Oct. 29, 2024. AP-Yonhap

SEOUL, October 30 (AJP) - A "relatively small number" of North Korean soldiers are now in Kursk, a Russian territory occupied by Ukraine, with another 2,000 troops in eastern Russia moving toward the Ukraine border, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.

"We remain concerned that Russia intends to use these soldiers in combat or to support combat operations against Ukrainian forces in Kursk," Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder told reporters during a press briefing. But he added that he could not confirm whether North Korean troops are already inside Ukraine and involved in fighting for Russia.

"We continue to monitor closely and are consulting with our Ukrainian partners, as well as other allies and partners," he said.
 
His remarks align with those of South Korea's spy agency, which speculated that there are indications some North Korean troops including high-ranking generals are moving to the frontlines.

There is also further evidence supporting the speculation. Blue/Yellow, a Lithuanian non-profit organization helping Ukraine troops, claimed earlier this week that there are already North Korean casualties on the battlefields.

"The first clashes between Ukrainian forces and North Korean troops took place in the Kyiv-controlled Kursk region in Russia" on Oct. 25, the NGO's head Jonas Ohman told Lithuanian broadcaster LRT. "All but one of [North Koreans] were killed, as far as I know," he added. 

He also claimed that his organization detected signs of North Korea's troop deployment to Russia several months ago. "We have known for a long time that North Korea is being prepared to play a role in the war against Ukraine. The first indications came six months ago. At that time, the North Koreans were in Belarus, training with some Belarusian units," he said.
 
Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden once again expressed concerns about the latest developments, saying that he was "concerned." When asked whether Ukraine should strike back against North Korean troops, he replied, "if they cross into Ukraine."