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The United States believes that North Korean military personnel, if they participate in the war against Ukraine, will become legitimate targets, just like the Russians.
This was stated by White House National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, John Kirby, at a briefing on Wednesday, October 23.
Kirby emphasized that the U.S. currently does not have exact data on why North Korean troops have been sent to Russia or whether they will indeed be involved in combat operations against Ukrainian forces.
“If they do indeed participate in the war against Ukraine, they are legitimate targets, legitimate military targets. And the Ukrainian military will defend themselves against North Korean soldiers in the same way they defend against Russian forces,” he added.
“The possibility of wounded or killed North Korean soldiers fighting against Ukraine — I think it’s quite real if they indeed fight (in Ukraine),” the White House representative noted.
On Wednesday, South Korean intelligence reported that North Korea had sent 3,000 troops to Russia to support the occupiers in the war against Ukraine and is also trying to isolate the families of selected soldiers in a specific location to prevent the spread of information.
Later, the White House confirmed reports of several thousand North Korean military personnel in Russia.
Against this backdrop, Germany and Austria summoned North Korean ambassadors.
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