Austin's statement was made at a press conference together with South Korea's Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun in Washington on Wednesday evening.
I am increasingly concerned that the Kremlin plans to use these North Korean soldiers to support Russia's combat operations in Russia's Kursk region near the border with Ukraine, said Austin.
Intelligence information indicates that North Korea has sent around 10,000 soldiers to Russia, said Austin. He added that several of them are believed to have been sent to the border region of Kursk, where Ukraine launched an offensive in August.
Austin calls the troop movement dangerous and destabilizing. South Korea also fears that North Korea will gain access to Russian nuclear technology in exchange, emphasized Kim.
The two defense ministers urged North Korea to immediately withdraw its soldiers.
