South Korean: North Korea sent 3,000 troops to Russia to aid in its war against Ukraine

South Korean: Following a briefing by the national intelligence agency, South Korean MPs said on Wednesday (Oct 23) that North Korea has sent 3,000 soldiers to Russia to help in its conflict against Ukraine, which is twice as many as previously estimated.

According to the MPs, Pyongyang had committed to sending a total of around 10,000 soldiers, and their deployment was anticipated to be finished by December.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have refuted allegations from Ukraine that North Korean forces are their route to the conflict.

Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, urged allies on Tuesday to address evidence of North Korean participation in Russia’s conflict.

Washington was discussing the ramifications of North Korean engagement with its partners, according to a senior U.S. diplomat who warned on Monday that such a development would be “dangerous and highly concerning development” if it were to occur.

On Friday, Seoul’s National Intelligence Service said that the North had sent some 1,500 troops to Russia.