Deployment and Expectations
The administration announced the deployment of approximately 8,000 North Korean soldiers to , near the Ukrainian border, aiming to support Russian efforts against .
Secretary of State and Defense Secretary indicated expectations of these troops engaging in combat against Ukrainian forces in the near future, following training in artillery, drones, and infantry operations by Russia.
International Reactions and Concerns
South Korean Foreign Minister condemned the deployment, calling for an immediate withdrawal of the North Korean troops, and emphasized the threat to both and the .
The , , and jointly criticized North Korea's recent intercontinental ballistic missile test as a violation of U.N. resolutions, highlighting the broader regional and global security implications of the North Korea-Russia alliance.