"There is evidence that North Korean troops are in Russia. What exactly are they doing? It remains to be guessed. These are things we need to settle," said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to reporters, noting the seriousness of the situation if North Korea "intends to participate in this war on behalf of Russia."
The State Department reported that the US is consulting with its allies and partners "about the consequences of such a drastic step."
The DPRK sent 3,000 military personnel to Russia to support the war against Ukraine, reported Reuters citing South Korean parliament members who participated in a national intelligence briefing.
Previously, it was reported by the intelligence of Ukraine and South Korea that North Korea sent soldiers to participate in the war against Ukraine. The Ukrainian side published videos allegedly showing North Korean soldiers at a training ground in Sergeevka, Primorsky Krai.
In response, South Korea is discussing the deployment of its intelligence officers to Ukraine to monitor the DPRK military and participate in prisoner interrogations, as well as the possibility of supporting Kyiv with lethal weapons.