The US expects that thousands of North Korean soldiers will “soon” move into Ukraine to fight on the side of the Russians.
This is what the US defense minister, Lloyd Austin, says on the night of Saturday Danish time.
Around 10,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to have been deployed to the Russian border region of Kursk. Here they are being integrated as part of the Russian army, says the Minister of Defence.
– The way they have trained and have been integrated into the Russian formations means that I fully expect to see them on the battlefield soon, says Lloyd Austin during a visit to the island nation of Fiji in the Pacific Ocean.
At the same time, he adds that he has so far “not received reports” that North Korean soldiers are on the battlefield yet.
South Korean government officials said Thursday that Russia has sent oil, anti-aircraft missiles and economic aid to North Korea in exchange for the troops the United States and South Korea say have been sent to Russia.
Ukraine has previously warned that Russia – in addition to the North Korean contribution – has a force of around 50,000 soldiers standing ready in Kursk.
Russia is expected to soon launch a counter-offensive in the Kursk region to regain Russian territory controlled by Ukraine.
Several media outlets in the United States, including the New York Times, have cited sources as saying that the current president, Joe Biden, has authorized Ukraine’s military to hit targets in Russia with American long-range missiles.
The missiles are to be used to defend Ukrainian forces in Kursk.
The Danish foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen (M), said earlier this week in connection with a meeting of defense ministers in the EU that he is pleased that Ukraine has been given permission to use the American missiles.
He also warned that Russia has been joined by North Korean soldiers.
– We have seen how Russia has drawn North Korean soldiers into the fighting. We can see that Russia is in many ways on the offensive, it said.
/ritzau/
Source: www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk
