This is as the world community continues to cry out for the withdrawal of the North Korean troops from Ukraine. According to reports, the recent troop deployment has left the number at 3,000.
South Korea on Wednesday said that Pyongyang had sent an additional 1,500 troops to back Russia on the Ukrainian war front, adding that 10,000 more will be deployed by December.
It is coming at a time when there was widespread outrage following the invasion of North Korean soldiers into Ukraine as world leaders call upon Pyongyang to withdraw. The recent deployment has boosted the number of troops to 3,000.
The spy agency in Seoul last week indicated Pyongyang had decided to ship a “large-scale” troop deployment to Russia to fight against Ukraine, cementing Pyongyang’s contentious military alliance with Moscow.
Official North Korean state media is tight-lipped about reported troop deployment, which Russia would not confirm.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said evidence does exist that North Korean soldiers are fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
“There is evidence that there are DPRK troops in Russia,” Austin said, referring to North Korea’s formal name – the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“What exactly are they doing? Left to be seen. These are things that we need to sort out,” Austin added.
Kyiv urges troops to surrender.
Ukraine on Wednesday called on any North Korean troops deployed by Russia to the war-battered country to surrender.
