Putin can’t defeat Ukraine even with DPRK’s support, - Austin
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin expressed confidence that Russia will not be able to defeat Ukraine, despite the fact that Russia has already deployed thousands of North Korean troops on its territory.
Austin said this during a briefing following a meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Censor.NET reports.
According to Austin, Washington is aware that North Korea has sent about 10,000 soldiers to train in eastern Russia. Some of these soldiers have already redeployed closer to Ukraine.
"I am increasingly concerned that the Kremlin is planning to use these North Korean soldiers to support Russia's military operations in the Kursk region near the border with Ukraine. Russia is a signatory to UN Security Council resolutions that pledge not to provide military assistance to North Korea. Of course, we know that Putin would do anything to get weapons from the DPRK and Iran," the US defense chief said.
At the same time, the Pentagon chief believes that the Kremlin's involvement of the DPRK military in the war against Ukraine shows that dictator Putin is in big trouble.
"We take this very seriously. We urge the Kremlin to change course. We fully understand the security implications for both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. Putin will not win in Ukraine, even with more help from North Korea. But these deeply troubling developments only underscore the importance of our alliance with South Korea," the U.S. Secretary said.
Participation of DPRK troops in Russia's war against Ukraine
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed Russia's involvement of North Korean soldiers in the war against Ukraine.
On October 25, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that, according to intelligence, the first North Korean military would be used by Russia in combat zones on October 27-28.
On October 28, the Pentagon said that the DPRK had sent about 10,000 of its military to Russia for training and further participation in hostilities against Ukraine, which would take place over the next "few weeks."
The Pentagon said that Ukrainian troops could use the American weapons provided to them against the North Korean military if the DPRK enters the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia.
Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder said that approximately several thousand North Korean soldiers are moving towards the Kursk region of Russia. A smaller number of them are already in the Kursk region.
