North Korean Troops Who Join Russia In Ukraine War Are ‘Fair Targets,’ U.S. Says

North Korean troops who join Russia in the war against Ukraine will be “fair game,” a White House spokesman said.

North Korea is expected to send roughly 12,000 troops to Russia for training and to potentially aid the Russian military in its fight against Ukraine, according to assessments from the U.S. and South Korean governments. About 3,000 North Korean troops have deployed to Russia already and are training at Russian military bases.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called the North Korean troops “fair game” if they enter the war against Ukraine, according to NBC News.

“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,” Kirby said. “There could be dead and wounded North Korean soldiers fighting against Ukraine.”

The North Korean deployment to Russia follows years of the two countries signaling increased cooperation, especially after the West moved to isolate Russia after it invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia denied the reports of North Korea troop movements. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the reports “fake and hype” on Wednesday.

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In comments from Rome on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that although North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia, it is not yet clear what their aims are.

“We are seeing evidence that there are North Korean troops that have gone to Russia,” Austin said. “What, exactly, they’re doing is left to be seen.”

South Korean officials, on the other hand, said that the North Korean troops were sent to bolster Russian forces fighting against Ukraine. South Korea’s defense minister told lawmakers on Thursday that North Korean troops were dressing in Russian uniforms and joining battle against Ukraine.

“Kim Jong Un is selling North Korean soldiers as cannon fodder mercenaries,” the defense minister said, according to NBC.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said that in light of North Korea’s expanded role in the war, South Korea would consider boosting its aid to Ukraine to include weapons on top of the non-lethal assistance South Korea has been providing.

The troop movements have rattled officials within NATO, who have begun discussions on what the development means for the alliance and how it approaches the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“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,” NATO spokeswoman Farah Dakhlallah told Politico Europe in a statement. “We are actively consulting within the Alliance on this matter, and the North Atlantic Council will receive a briefing from the Republic of Korea and further discuss this matter soon.”