CNN —A small number of North Korean troops are already inside Ukraine, according to two western intelligence officials, and officials expect that number to grow as the North Koreans complete training in eastern Russia and move toward the front lines of the war.
The North Korean troops’ presence inside Ukraine goes a step beyond what NATO and the Pentagon confirmed on Monday, which is that roughly 10,000 North Korean troops are training in eastern Russia with some en route to Russia’s Kursk region.
A US official said the US can not yet corroborate reports that North Koreans troops are already inside Ukraine.
The Russians have been teaching North Korean soldiers basic Russian commands in training, like “fire” and “in position,” South Korean lawmakers told reporters on Tuesday.
‘The number may rise’South Korean intelligence has put the number of North Korean troops inside Russia right now at about 13,000, higher than the US and the UK.
Persons:
Volodymyr Zelensky, catchup, Matthew Miller, Andriy Yermak, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Yermak, Sullivan, ”, Sullivan “, ” Miller, CNN’s Haley Britzky, Jennifer Hansler
Organizations:
CNN, North Koreans, North, NATO, Pentagon, South Korea, Korean, State, National, North Korean, South, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, White House, “
Locations:
Ukraine, Russia, Russia’s Kursk, Kursk, “, Koreans, Ukrainian, Washington ,, ”, North Korea, Moscow, China, Pyongyang