Around 10,000 North Korean soldiers are based in the Russian region of Kursk and are now being integrated into the Russian war organization, according to Austin, head of the American defense department Pentagon.
Based on what they have trained for, the way they have integrated into the Russian forces, I expect to see them engaged in battles soon, he says in connection with a visit to the Pacific nation of Fiji.
So far, there are no clear reports of any North Korean soldiers being actively involved in battles, according to Austin.
North Korea has received oil, air defense missiles, and economic aid in exchange for soldiers on the Russian side in the Ukraine war, according to South Korean sources.
Ukraine has warned that Russia, in addition to the North Korean soldiers, has gathered 50,000 soldiers who they expect will be used to retake the parts of the Kursk region that were captured by Ukrainian forces earlier this year.
