White House National Security Council Press Secretary John Kirby told reporters Monday that the United States is monitoring reports that North Korean soldiers are being “sent to Russia” to fight in Ukraine. .
“We are of course continuing to investigate these reports,” Kirby said. “We are also talking with our allies and partners about what they are saying on this matter. If it is true that North Korean soldiers are going there to take part in the war against Ukraine, it is definitely dangerous. This is a very worrying development.”
Kirby said the incident is “another sign of President Putin's increasing desperation and growing isolation, and the need to reach out to North Korea for possibilities.” As mentioned, we are looking into the reports, indicating the need to reach out to North Korea for the possibility of infantry support for Putin's ground operations. Also mentioned. . ”
“There is no question that the Russian military continues to suffer extraordinary numbers of casualties on the battlefield,” Kirby said, citing figures showing the Russian military is losing more than 1,200 soldiers per day. he said.
US 'concerned' over reports that North Korean soldiers are fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine
National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby speaks during a press conference at the White House on June 21, 2022. (Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“This is a truly historic number of soldiers killed and wounded in this battle, all just to fulfill his distorted and distorted idea of Ukraine's ability to exist as a sovereign nation.” he said. “I think all of this proves that Mr. Putin is becoming increasingly desperate and increasingly isolated on the world stage.”
The United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have not confirmed that North Korean troops have been dispatched to Russia. But reports of their presence have already raised concerns in South Korea that Russia may provide North Korea with advanced technology that could significantly strengthen its nuclear and missile programs in return for sending troops. .
South Korea summoned the Russian ambassador on Monday to protest deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Moscow and demand the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops.
President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shake hands during a meeting in Russia's Amur region on September 13, 2023. (Vladimir Smirnov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
President Vladimir Putin meets Iranian President Pezeshkian and celebrates 'very close' relations
South Korea's intelligence agency said Friday it confirmed that North Korea sent 1,500 special operations troops to Russia this month to support Russia's war against Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier said his government had received information that 10,000 North Korean soldiers were ready to join invading Russian forces.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to shake hands with several world leaders this week, including China's Xi Jinping, India's Narendra Modi, Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Iran's Masoud Pezeshkian. is. The two leaders are scheduled to meet in the Russian city of Kazan on Tuesday for a meeting of the developing BRICS bloc, contrary to expectations that Putin would be ostracized by the war in Ukraine and an international arrest warrant against him. It is.
On July 20, 2024, a Ukrainian tank caught fire during a training exercise in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine. (Ethan Swope/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The alliance aims to counter the Western-led world order and initially included Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, but began expanding rapidly this year. Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia joined in January. Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Malaysia have formally applied, and many other countries have also expressed interest in joining.
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“These countries can decide for themselves who they want to associate with and especially how they want to connect economically. Russia is becoming increasingly isolated on the world stage,” Kirby said on Monday. “There's no question about it. Mr. Putin still needs to take drastic steps to prop up the currency and keep the war economy going.”
According to Reuters, President Putin is expected to conclude the BRICS meeting at a press conference on Thursday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
