### North Korean Troops in Russia Set to Join Battle Against Ukraine, Blinken Says

North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia are expected to engage in combat within days, making them valid targets for Ukrainian forces, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Thursday. Speaking at a State Department news conference, Blinken revealed that 8,000 North Korean troops are currently based in the Russian region of Kursk, an area where Ukrainian troops successfully gained ground earlier this summer. These North Korean soldiers are receiving training from Russian forces in artillery, drone operations, and trench clearing.

Blinken criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to rely on North Korean troops, describing it as a demonstration of Russian military weakness. According to Blinken, Russian casualties are now at an all-time high during this conflict, with 1,200 soldiers either wounded or killed each day, labeling the ongoing war as a "meat grinder of his own making."

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who also attended the news conference, disclosed that the North Korean troops have been outfitted with Russian uniforms and equipment. He expressed skepticism over their potential impact, given the severe losses suffered by Russian forces. "This 10,000 won’t come close to replacing the numbers the Russians have lost," Austin said.

The Pentagon had earlier reported that 10,000 North Korean troops were sent to train at Russian military bases in the eastern part of the country. South Korean intelligence, utilizing facial recognition technology and artificial intelligence, identified a smaller fraction of that number on Russian soil. Ukraine's spy agency corroborated the presence of North Korean forces near its border and noted that their integration with Russian troops has faced significant challenges.