Imagine this: North Korean troops in Russia supporting the invasion of Ukraine. Sounds far-fetched, right? Well, it's not. U. S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed this week that North Korea has indeed sent soldiers to help Russia in its ongoing conflict. "We need to figure out exactly what they're doing, " Austin told reporters in Rome. The U. S. considers this a serious issue, and rightly so.

North Korea has been denying these claims at the United Nations. They insist that roughly 12, 000 of their troops aren't in Russia to support the attack on Ukraine. But South Korea's National Intelligence Service has evidence to the contrary. They believe about 1, 500 special forces troops have already been sent via a navy ship.

South Korea's lawmakers are adding more fuel to the fire. They say North Korea has sent 3, 000 troops so far and promised to send 10, 000 more by December. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also concerned. He stated that two units of North Korean soldiers, each with up to 6, 000 personnel, are being trained for deployment.

But here’s where it gets interesting. The U. S. intelligence says these troops haven’t reached Ukraine yet. Instead, they landed in Vladivostok, a city in eastern Russia. American intelligence officials are about to release evidence, including satellite photos, to back up these claims.

And it gets even more complicated. South Korea's intelligence suggests that among these troops are missile technicians. Their job? To support Russia's use of North Korean missiles against Ukraine.

Russia’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, downplayed the situation. He said North Korea is a close neighbor and partner, and their cooperation isn't targeting any third parties.

So, the big question is: Why is North Korea involved in this conflict? And what does this mean for the future of not just Ukraine, but the world?

North Korea's Soldiers in Russia: A Surprising Turn

Actions