US Monitoring North Korea’s Support for Russia: Pentagon
The US is actively monitoring North Korea’s support for Russia, according to a Pentagon spokesperson. This comes after reports surfaced that six North Korean military officers were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike in Russian-occupied territory near Donetsk last week.
Ukrainian media have speculated that North Korea might even deploy troops to aid Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, in addition to supplying munitions, ballistic missiles, and other military equipment, as reported by Yonhap.
Pentagon Deputy Spokesperson Sabrina Singh addressed the media, stating, “I haven’t seen those reports, so I can’t confirm that. However, we have observed North Korea’s willingness to support Russia militarily, and it’s something we continue to monitor.”
Singh emphasized that the primary concern for Washington is providing support to Ukraine and addressing its needs on the battlefield.
During a parliamentary audit session, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun indicated that the likelihood of North Korea deploying troops to assist Russia is “very high,” citing the countries’ “comprehensive strategic partnership” treaty, which includes a mutual defense clause.
In a separate briefing, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller refrained from commenting on the possibility of North Korea sending regular troops to Ukraine.
In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership treaty promising military aid in the event of an armed invasion, raising concerns about a revival of their Cold War-era military alliance. This treaty has fueled speculation that North Korea might extend its support to Russia beyond merely sending weapons.
