World / Russia US Gives Count of North Korean Troops in Russia As NATO confirms their presence in the Kursk region By Newser.AI Read our AI policy Posted Oct 28, 2024 3:25 PM CDT Copied NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speak to journalists during a news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File) See 4 more photos The US has put a number on the amount of troops North Korea has sent to Russia to bolster its war against Ukraine: approximately 10,000 soldiers. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said portion of these troops have already advanced towards Ukraine. "We are increasingly concerned that Russia intends to use these soldiers in combat or to support combat operations against Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk" region, she told reporters. NATO appeared to back up those concerns by confirming the arrival of some soldiers in the Kursk border region. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized that this escalation represents a "dangerous expansion of Russia's war." The deployment underscores an intensifying collaboration between Russia and North Korea amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while not directly acknowledging the North Korean troop presence, underscored a recent joint security pact between Moscow and Pyongyang. Lavrov dismissed NATO's concerns saying, "Western military personnel long have been working in Ukraine." (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP) < > Springfield Officials Settle With Sonya Massey's Family for $10M Feb 12, 2025 10:53 AM CST Australia Does Not Like China's Risky Fighter Jet Stunt 7 hours, 45 minutes ago Judge Orders LSU to Reinstate Fired Professor Feb 12, 2025 2:15 AM CST New Hampshire Bakery's Mural Sparks First Amendment Battle 7 hours, 33 minutes ago Canada Aims to Stop Fentanyl at US Border 16 hours, 17 minutes ago Lawmaker Had Seizure During House Floor Speech Feb 12, 2025 1:45 AM CST Tupac Murder Suspect Misses Court, Delays Trial Feb 12, 2025 10:46 AM CST JD Vance Visits Dachau Memorial Amid Ukraine Talks 6 hours, 45 minutes ago State of Emergency Declared on Second Greek Island 8 hours, 11 minutes ago Trump and Modi Meet Amid Trade and Tariff Tensions 17 hours, 17 minutes ago Injuries Reported as Car Plows Into Crowd in Munich 10 hours, 8 minutes ago Ukraine Offers New Incentives to Attract Young Recruits Feb 12, 2025 10:42 AM CST NFL's Kadarius Toney Charged With Assault in Georgia 16 hours, 47 minutes ago Gas Explosion in Taiwan Store Kills 4, Injures 8 15 hours, 17 minutes ago Paul McCartney Stuns New York With Surprise Show Feb 12, 2025 12:15 AM CST Fire at Rio Factory Disrupts Carnival Preparations, Injures 10 15 hours, 47 minutes ago Measles Outbreak Expands Across Texas and New Mexico Feb 12, 2025 1:15 AM CST Louisiana to Resume Executions After 15-Year Pause Feb 12, 2025 12:45 AM CST See 4 more photos Report an error