The US cannot confirm that Pyongyang is sending troops to Russia for the war in Ukraine

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he could not confirm reports that North Korea had sent soldiers to Russia to then take part in the war in Ukraine. Austin said that if this is true, it is a worrying development, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.

South Korea's intelligence agency said on Friday that North Korea has sent 1,500 soldiers from its special forces to the Russian Far East for training and acclimatization at local military bases. According to the South Korean agency, the soldiers are likely to be sent to fight in the war in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused North Korea on Thursday of preparing to send 10,000 troops to help Russia in the war.

However, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said this week that at this stage there is no evidence of a North Korean presence.

Russia and North Korea also denied the information.