White House says North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine is ‘fair game’

The US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that North Korean troops fighting for Vladimir Putin in Ukraine is “fair game.”

He shared details that based on intelligence reports Washington believes that Pyongyang “moved at least 3,000 soldiers into eastern Russia.”

At press briefing in the White House Kirby said, “If they do deploy to fight against Ukraine, they’re fair game, 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.

“And so the possibility that there could be dead and wounded North Korean soldiers… is absolutely real if they get deployed.”

Hungary warns we’ve not ‘been this close to a world war in seventy years’

UK says North Korean ‘combat troops’ fighting for Putin on ‘European soil is shocking’

Chinese mercenary fighting in Ukraine confirms North Korean soldiers killed

NATO confirms North Korean troops in Russia marking a ‘significant escalation’

Kirby added, “We assess that these soldiers travelled by ship from the Wan area in North Korea to Vladivostok, Russia.

“These soldiers then travelled onward to multiple Russian military training sites in eastern Russia where they are currently undergoing training.”

He said they do not know for certain if the North Korean soldiers “will enter into combat alongside the Russian military,” the US believes it is a “highly concerning probability,” the Kyiv Independent reports.

He continued, “We have briefed the Ukrainian government on our understanding of this situation, and we’re certainly consulting closely with other allies, partners and countries in the region on the implications of such a dramatic move, and on how we might respond.

“I expect to have more to share on all of that in the coming days.”

NATO has also confirmed North Korean troops are inside Russia who are preparing to fight in Ukraine, which will “mark a significant escalation.”

NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah said allies have received evidence of the deployment of troops Pyongyang’s troops in Russia.

Dakhlallah said in a statement, “Allies have confirmed evidence of a DPRK troop deployment to Russia.

“If these troops are destined to fight in Ukraine, it would mark a significant escalation in North Korea’s support for Russia’s illegal war and yet another sign of Russia’s significant losses on the front lines.”