U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin urged North Korea on Wednesday to withdraw its troops from Russia. Speaking at a joint news conference with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun at the Pentagon, Austin called on North Korea to halt its potentially destabilizing actions in both the Indo-Pacific region and Europe. He warned that such behavior could prolong or widen the conflict.
Austin highlighted evidence indicating that North Korea has sent approximately 10,000 soldiers to train in eastern Russia, expressing concern over the “unprecedented level of direct military cooperation” between the two nations. He noted that some of these North Korean troops have already moved closer to Ukraine, where they are reportedly being outfitted in Russian uniforms and supplied with Russian equipment.
“I am growing more worried that the Kremlin intends to deploy these North Korean soldiers to bolster its military efforts in the Kursk region, which is close to the Ukrainian border,” he said. He also expressed confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not succeed in Ukraine, even with North Korean assistance.
When asked about the potential involvement of North Korean troops in combat against Ukrainian forces, Austin refrained from speculating on a timeline. He affirmed that the U.S. will continue monitoring the situation and collaborating with allies to discourage Russia from deploying these troops in combat.
Austin clarified that if North Korean soldiers engage alongside Russian forces against Ukraine, they would be considered “co-belligerents.” He noted that Ukrainian forces have the right to defend themselves using U.S.-provided weapons if they encounter North Korean soldiers.
In response to the escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, Kim expressed that he and Austin agreed to maintain a strong combined defense posture and work closely together. He emphasized that while North Korean troop deployments to Russia may not directly change the likelihood of war on the Korean Peninsula, they could escalate security threats in the region.
Regarding North Korea’s potential interference in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, Kim stated that the likelihood is low. However, he suggested that North Korea might try to amplify its presence around the election period, possibly through actions like launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) or conducting a seventh nuclear test.
