North Korea has dispatched 10,000 troops to train in Russia, the Pentagon announced on Monday, as NATO and the EU expressed alarm about a hazardous escalation of the conflict. Moscow and Pyongyang have increased military cooperation since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, but the use of North Korean forces in combat would be a big move. “We believe that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has sent approximately 10,000 soldiers to train in eastern Russia,” which will “likely” result in “reinforcements of Russian forces near Ukraine in the coming weeks,” Pentagon deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh said. “Some” of the forces “have already moved closer to Ukraine,” she explained. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol reacted to the Pentagon’s announcement, criticising “the illegal deployment

We estimate the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has sent roughly 10,000 soldiers to train in eastern Russia,” which will “likely” lead to “reinforcements of Russian forces near Ukraine in the coming weeks,” according to Pentagon deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh. “Some” of the forces “have already moved closer to Ukraine,” she explained. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol responded to the Pentagon’s announcement today, blasting “the illegal military cooperation between Russia and North Korea,” which he described as “a serious threat to global security.” A South Korean congressman speculated Wednesday that North Korean generals could be travelling to the Ukrainian front, citing his country’s intelligence services. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the number of North Korean troops stationed in Russia may soon exceed “12,000,”

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden described the presence of North Korean forces in Russia as “very dangerous.” The United States has also advised Beijing on the situation, emphasising that China “should be concerned about the destabilising actions of its two neighbours, Russia and North Korea,” according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.