Pentagon Confirms 3,000 North Korean Troops In Russia, Raising Concerns About Putin's War In Ukraine

U.S. military leaders have confirmed what could amount to a serious escalation of Russian President Vladimir Putin's war with Ukraine -- an estimated 3,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, although the Pentagon says is not yet clear how they will be used.

South Korea and Ukraine have been warning the United States and western allies in recent days and weeks that thousands of soldiers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are being trained for deployment in Russia, and that some are already there.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, traveling in Europe Wednesday, confirmed at least part of that.

There is evidence that there are DPRK troops in Russia," Secretary Austin said. "What exactly they're doing...left to be seen."

More than two and a half years after Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, with casualties mounting and no clear end in sight, Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence say North Korean troops -- ultimately as many as 10,000 -- are preparing to take up arms for Russia.

"If they are co-belligerents," Austin told reporters, "their intention is to participate in this war on Russia's behalf, that is a very, very serious issue."

Russia and North Korea deny the troop movements, but the Biden administration says North Korea is already supplying Moscow with weapons, in violation of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. Supplying manpower, they say, is just the next step.

They say it also is a sign of President Putin's desperation.

"If Russia is indeed forced to turn to North Korea for manpower," said White House national security spokesman John Kirby Wednesday afternoon, "this would be a sign of weakness, not strength on the part of the Kremlin."

Oklahoma's Congressional delegation views the development as further evidence America is facing an unprecedented threat environment, in part, because of the administration's weak foreign policy.

"As Russia and North Korea - along with China and Iran - seek to further coordinate their efforts," said Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) in a statement, "America must project strength and unite with our allies around our commitment to freedom."

“Russia has conscripted their prisoners and hired mercenaries to fight on the front lines in Ukraine,” said Senator James Lankford (R-OK) in a statement. “Now, there is evidence that Putin has North Korean troops training on Russian soil. Putin will go to any length to murder his neighbors and occupy their land."

The Pentagon says it continues to surge critical security assistance to Ukraine and is consulting with NATO allies about how to respond to the evolving Russia-North Korea military alliance.