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USA. White House: There are at least three thousand North Korean soldiers in Russia, undergoing training there

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In October, at least three thousand soldiers were transported from North Korea to Russia and are currently undergoing training in the eastern part of the country, said John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council. He said the US and allies are discussing ways to respond to the situation.

– We are working closely with our allies and partners to fully understand this situation, but today I am ready to share what we know at this stage: we estimate that by early to mid-October North Korea transferred at least 3,000 soldiers to the eastern part Russia Kirby said during a White House briefing.

He added that according to US intelligence, these soldiers traveled by ship from the Wonsan area in North Korea to Vladivostok, Russia, and then went to Russian training centers in eastern Russia, where they are currently undergoing training.

– We do not yet know whether these soldiers will take part in combat alongside the Russian army, but it is certainly a highly disturbing possibility that after completing their training, these soldiers could go to western Russia and then fight with the Ukrainian army – he noted.

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READ: Kim Jong Un's soldiers in Russia. Seoul has an idea

Kim Jong Un's regime: 1.4 million young people want to join the armyReuters

What can the Kim regime receive in return for Russia's help?

Kirby admitted that the administration USA does not yet know what Kim Jong Un's regime will receive in return for its help. However, he warned that if North Korean soldiers reach the front, they will be a legitimate target for the Ukrainian military, just like soldiers from Russia. The spokesman emphasized that Russia has lost about 535,000 soldiers so far, and is currently losing 1-1,200 soldiers a day. He also noted that he expected North Korean soldiers to have serious communication and command problems, given the language barrier and problems within the Russian army.

Asked about the U.S. and Western response to Pyongyang's move, Kirby said Washington would continue to supply military equipment Ukraineincluding hundreds of air defense missiles, dozens of tactical air defense systems, artillery, hundreds of transporters and infantry fighting vehicles, and thousands of additional armored vehicles. He added that the U.S. and allies, including Ukraine, are in talks about additional steps. When asked whether the US would lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range weapons for attacks deep inside Russia, he refused to give a clear answer.

During the briefing, Kirby also highlighted the $20 billion loan the U.S. will provide to Ukraine. The agreement on this matter was signed on Wednesday in Washington by the heads of the US and Ukrainian finance ministries, Janet Yellen and Serhiy Marchenko. The loan is part of a G7 package totaling $50 billion and will be repaid from revenues generated by the frozen assets of the Central Bank of Russia.

– This lending initiative will provide Ukraine with urgently needed funds, with funds established and made available by the end of this year. This will be a signal to Putin that waiting out the coalition is a losing strategy, Yellen said during the signing ceremony.

Main photo source: Reuters



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