US defense officials warn of North Korean troops joining Russia in Ukraine

The U.S. Department of Defense is closely monitoring the possibility of North Korean troops being deployed to Russia to aid in the conflict in Ukraine, Pentagon spokesman Gen. Patrick Ryder said late Tuesday.

"This is certainly something that needs to be monitored," Ryder stated, addressing concerns about potential agreements reached between North Korean and Russian leaders during their recent meeting in Pyongyang.

Ryder emphasized that if Moscow were to request military support from North Korea, the latter's leadership should consider the implications of committing their forces to the conflict.

"We have seen the losses of Russian troops. But, again, we'll keep an eye on it," Ryder said.

According to an official briefing from Kyiv, the Russian Armed Forces and affiliated paramilitaries have suffered 583,000 casualties since the war began in February 2022.

The mutual defense agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang may extend to Russia's war in Ukraine, Ukrainian media reported. However, Ryder questioned the strategic value of such an arrangement for North Korea.

"If I were the command of North Korean military personnel, I would question my options to send my forces as cannon fodder in an illegal war against Ukraine," Ryder told the press.