United States Defense Minister Says There Is Evidence Of The Presence Of North Korean Troops In Russia

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. (Wikimedia Commons/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony J. Rivera)

JAKARTA - US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on Wednesday there was evidence that North Korean forces were in Russia, but it remains to be seen what they will do there.

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

"What exactly do they do? We'll see. These are the things we need to finish," added Defense Secretary Austin.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had cited intelligence on the preparation of two units with the possibility of up to 12,000 North Korean troops taking part in the war with Russian troops.

Separately, South Korea's spy agency last week said North Korea had sent 1,500 special forces personnel to Russia's Far East for training and aclimatization at a local military base likely to be used for war battles in Ukraine.

Russia and North Korea have denied arms transfers but have pledged to improve military relations.