United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday that there is "evidence" indicating the presence of North Korean troops in Russia.
Speaking to reporters after the first-ever G7 defense ministers' meeting in Italy, Austin mentioned that US analysts are "looking into" the matter but refrained from providing further details until a thorough analysis is completed. "What exactly they're doing is left to be seen," he stressed.
According to the South Korean National Intelligence Service, around 10,000 North Korean troops are anticipated to be deployed to Russia by the end of the year. However, Pyongyang has consistently refuted claims of its troops being present in Russia, dismissing them as "stereotyped rumors," while satellite imagery released by South Korea reportedly indicates the movement of North Korean soldiers to Russia.
