U.S. says 3,000 North Korean troops sent to Russia for possible Ukraine deployment

The United States said on Wednesday that for the first time it had seen evidence that North Korea has sent 3,000 troops to Russia for possible deployment in Ukraine, a move that could mark a significant escalation in Russia's war against its neighbour.

U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, speaking in Rome, said it would be "very, very serious" if the North Koreans were preparing to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine, as Kyiv has alleged. But he said it remained to be seen what they would be doing there.

"There is evidence that there are DPRK troops in Russia," Austin told reporters, using North Korea's formal name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

WATCH | U.S. defence secretary speaks of 'evidence' of troop deployment:

'There is evidence' of North Korean troops in Russia, U.S. defence secretary says

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Duration 0:33

U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that it's not yet clear what exactly North Korean troops are doing in Russia.

Speaking to reporters later on Wednesday White House spokesperson John Kirby said the United States believes at least 3,000 North Korean troops are undergoing training at three military bases in eastern Russia.

The U.S. determined the North Korean soldiers were transported by ship in early-to-mid October from North Korea's Wonsan region to the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok before being taken to three military training sites in eastern Russia, said Kirby.

Troops 'fair game' if in Ukraine: Kirby

"If they do deploy to fight against Ukraine, they're fair game," he said. "They're fair targets and the Ukrainian military will defend themselves against North Korean soldiers the same way they're defending themselves against Russian soldiers."

In Seoul, South Korean lawmakers said that Pyongyang had promised to provide a total of about 10,000 troops, whose deployment was expected to be completed by December.

WATCH | Ukraine says North Korean troops preparing to enterthe conflict:

Unverified video appears to show North Korean troops in Russia

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Duration 2:06

A Ukrainian government agency says North Korea has sent troops to Russia to support its military operation in Ukraine. Unverified video purportedly shows North Koreans picking up Russian uniforms and military gear.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also accused Pyongyang of preparing to send 10,000 soldiers to Russia, calling on allies on Tuesday to respond to evidence of North Korean involvement in Russia's war.

NATO allies are consulting on the North Korean deployment to Russia, a NATO spokesperson said.

A Biden administration official said Moscow might send the North Koreans to eastern Ukraine or to its own Kursk region, where Russian troops have been fighting to dislodge Ukrainian forces holding a chunk of territory that they seized in an incursion that began in August.

Mike Turner, the chair of the U.S. House of Representatives intelligence committee, said in a statement that U.S. President Joe Biden should allow Kyiv to respond with U.S.-supplied arms if North Korean troops "attack Ukraine from Russian territory."

"North Korean troops were to invade Ukraine's sovereign territory, the United States needs to seriously consider taking direct military action against the North Korean troops," Turner added.

Pyongyang tried to control news: lawmaker

Lee Seong-kweun, a lawmaker on the South Korean committee, said Pyongyang authorities had tried to keep news of the deployment from spreading.

"There are also signs of North Korean authorities relocating and isolating those families [of the troops]in a certain place in order to effectively control them and thoroughly crack down on the rumours," Lee said, citingSouth Korea's national intelligence agency.

Lee also said the spy agency confirmed that Russia had recruited a "large number" of interpreters for the North Korean soldiers, while training them in use of military equipment, such as drones.

"Russian instructors are assessing that the North Korean military has excellent physical attributes and morale but lacks understanding of modern warfare such as drone attacks," he said.

"Therefore, there could be many casualties if they are deployed to the front lines."

U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say Russia has suffered more than 600,000 killed or wounded troops in the war in Ukraine.

On Tuesday the South's presidential office urged an immediate withdrawal of the North's troops from Russia, warning that it may consider supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine if military ties between them went too far.