Pyongyang previously rejected the accusation, while the Kremlin called reports on the matter “contradictory”
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has asserted that North Korean military personnel have arrived in Russia. However, he admitted that the US is currently uncertain about their purpose in the country. Pyongyang has denied these allegations, while the Kremlin has highlighted the “contradictory information” surrounding the issue.
During a press conference in Rome on Wednesday, Austin stated, “there is evidence of DPRK troops in Russia,” adding that “what exactly they’re doing is left to be seen.” He revealed that Washington is actively seeking further information regarding this alleged deployment.
Austin emphasized that it would pose a “serious issue” if North Korea intended to “participate in this war on Russia’s behalf.” He declined to disclose the number of troops purportedly present in Russia or their specific locations.
Last week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused North Korea of dispatching a military contingent to support Russian forces in the conflict. On Monday, South Korea echoed these concerns, summoning the Russian ambassador to Seoul and “strongly calling for the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops and [to] stop relevant cooperation” with Pyongyang while threatening to “respond with every possible means” if this demand is not met.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov characterized North Korea as Russia’s “close neighbor… we are developing relations in all areas.” He added that the bilateral cooperation “is our sovereign right, and no one should be worried, because cooperation is not directed against third countries… We see a lot of contradictory information,” he said, referencing Seoul’s accusations and the Pentagon’s claims that it could not confirm them at the time.
North Korea has dismissed the allegations of troop deployment to Russia as “groundless and stereotype rumors,” asserting that the accusations aim to “smear the image of the DPRK and undermine the legitimate friendly and cooperative relations between sovereign states.”