US calls on North Korea to 'withdraw its troops'
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has called on North Korea to withdraw its troops, which have been sent to Russia to support the war in Ukraine.
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The US has demanded that North Korea withdraw the troops it has sent to Russia.
Austin held a joint press conference with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, whom he met at the Department of Defense (Pentagon).
Stating that he is "increasingly concerned" about North Korea sending troops to Russia to fight in Ukraine, Austin called on North Korea to withdraw the units it has sent to Russia.
Austin stated that North Korean soldiers have the potential to prolong and expand the conflict in Ukraine, saying, "I call on them to end their potentially destabilizing behavior, both in the Indo-Pacific region and now on the European stage."
Reiterating that evidence shows North Korea has sent 10,000 soldiers to eastern Russia for training, Austin argued that some of these units have been moved toward the Ukrainian border wearing Russian uniforms and using Russian equipment.
Austin noted that it is not yet clear whether North Korean soldiers will be used in combat, saying, "I am increasingly concerned that the Kremlin plans to use these North Korean soldiers to support combat operations in Russia's Kursk region near the Ukrainian border."
Stating that they will continue to monitor developments and work with their allies to prevent this situation, Austin claimed that even if Russia receives "more help" from North Korea, it will not be successful in Ukraine.
NORTH KOREA'S INVOLVEMENT
Russian President Vladimir Putin paid an official visit to North Korea in June, and a "comprehensive strategic partnership agreement" was signed between the parties.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a statement on October 25 that they had learned Russia would deploy North Korean soldiers to the first combat zones on October 27-28.
In a statement made by the White House on the same day, it was announced that more than 3,000 soldiers had been brought to Russia to fight against Ukraine and that some of these soldiers had likely been deployed to the Kursk region.
The Pentagon also reported in a statement yesterday that it is believed North Korea has sent approximately 10,000 soldiers to Russia as reinforcements.