(CNN)- More than 8,000 North Korean troops are in the Kursk region of Russia and are expected to join the fight against Ukraine in the coming days, senior US officials announced Thursday.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his South Korean counterparts in Washington, said the forces “are trained in basic infantry operations including artillery, unmanned aerial vehicles, trench clearing, etc., which reflects That there is every intention to use them” These forces are in frontline operations.”
Although the U.S. has not yet seen troops engage in actual combat, Blinken warned Thursday that “if these troops engage in combat or combat support operations against Ukraine, they will become legitimate military targets.”
The 8,000 North Korean troops now stationed in Kursk represent the majority of the 10,000 troops the US says were deployed in Russia. The announcement of its imminent combat involvement comes as the United States and its allies consider how to respond to the growing military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.
“We are consulting closely with our allies and partners in other countries in the region regarding these reckless developments and our response,” Austin said at a Thursday news conference. The United States will announce additional military assistance to Ukraine “in the coming days,” Blinken said.
Ukrainian forces have seized territory in Kursk since launching surprise raids into the Russian border area in August. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called on South Korea to take a more active role in supporting Kiev, warned on Thursday that when North Korean troops are deployed, “they will be pushed forward, taking heavy losses, while Russia will try to reduce its forces. Mobilization.”
Asked whether he believed Ukraine would be able to maintain its territory in Kursk with the deployment of additional North Korean forces to the area, Austin said, “The answer is yes.”
Russian forces have suffered heavy losses in the large-scale war against Ukraine that has been going on for more than two years. The US Defense Secretary said on Thursday that the number of North Korean troops sent to Kursk is “less” than the casualties Russia regularly sees.
On Thursday, Blinken and Austin doubled down on calls for China to use its influence with North Korea to curb its “provocative actions.”
“We have maintained communication with China, in fact, we have had a vigorous conversation this week, and I think they are well aware of our concerns and expectations that, in both word and deed, they will use their influence.” Will use. Work to stop these activities,” the top US diplomat said. He said Beijing should be concerned about deepening cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Blinken said, “We are very focused and concerned about what Russia is doing to improve (North Korean) capabilities, its military capability, that should be a real concern for China as well, because the region “It is deeply destabilizing.”
“I am surprised by China’s silence” about North Korea’s support for Russia, Zelensky said in an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS. “I can’t say that China is on our side, but its silence as a guarantor of regional security is surprising.”