U. S. defense chief Lloyd Austin recently revealed that North Korean troops have been spotted in Russia. This adds a new twist to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. South Korea first warned about this last week, saying North Korean commandos were heading to Ukraine to fight alongside Russia. "We're not sure what their exact role is, " Austin said during his visit to Rome. But the presence of these troops could signal that Russia's President Putin is in a tougher spot than it seems. Some believe Russia's gains in Ukraine have come at a high cost.

South Korean intelligence estimates that around 3, 000 North Korean troops are already in Russia. Ukrainian officials are closely monitoring the situation, and they've asked any North Korean troops to surrender. The impact of these troops on the battlefield depends on their training and equipment. North Korea has been supplying Russia with artillery for months.

The bigger concern is the broader support from North Korea's nuclear-armed regime to Putin's war. In June, both leaders signed a strategic partnership, strengthening their military and economic ties. The U. S. and South Korea worry that Russia might give North Korea advanced weapons in return for its support.

South Korea has now threatened to supply Ukraine with weapons, something it avoided since the invasion started in February 2022. Both North Korea and Russia have dismissed the claims of troop deployment as false.

North Korea's Secret Role in Ukraine

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