Pentagon Now Says North Korean Troops Are Mustering In Russia

The Pentagon has assessed that North Korean troops appear to be in Russia, with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirming the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. Austin stated that the exact purpose of their presence is unclear, but if they are participating in the war on Russia's behalf, it would be a very serious issue. The Ukrainian government has been alleging that North Korean troops are already fighting Ukrainian forces in the east of the country. The Pentagon chief suggested that this is a sign of growing Russian weakness and manpower problems. Austin emphasized that this indicates Russian President Vladimir Putin may be in more trouble than most people realize. The US confirmation marks a reversal of the Pentagon's previous stance, which refused to back Ukrainian and South Korean spy agency claims of North Korean troop deployment. South Korean intelligence had claimed that 1,500 DPRK troops had already been deployed to fight on behalf of Russia. The reports of North Korean troops in Ukraine are giving fresh impetus to hawks who support increased military aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelensky has been pushing the idea that Russia, Iran, and North Korea have formed an axis to fight in Ukraine and push back NATO. The presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine has significant implications, not only in Europe but also in the Indo-Pacific region.