If North Korea officially joins the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia, Kyiv will be able to count on full freedom to use American weapons without additional restrictions. This position was voiced by the Pentagon, Reuters reports.
According to the United States, Russia has now deployed about 10,000 North Korean soldiers on its territory, although the figure was previously reported at 3,000. Some of these troops have moved closer to the Ukrainian border, and according to Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh, there is serious concern that Russia could use these forces in active combat or to support military operations in the Kursk region, which is located near the border with Ukraine.
Although there is no official confirmation of the presence of North Korean troops in the Kursk region, the Pentagon has noted that the likelihood of their movement to the region is high.
The involvement of the North Korean military in hostilities against Ukraine became known after a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on 22 October. He reported that Russia was preparing two units of the DPRK military, each of which could number up to 6,000 people. Confirmation of their arrival in the Kursk region came on 24 October, when Ukrainian intelligence said that the DPRK units could be involved in hostilities by the end of October.
Commenting on the presence of the DPRK military, Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled the partnership agreement with North Korea, noting that the terms of its implementation are ‘an internal matter of countries’. In response to this situation, South Korean media reported that South Korea might consider transferring offensive weapons to Ukraine and even sending specialists to work with North Korean prisoners.
