USA: North Korean troops in Russia show Putin's 'desperation'

2024-10-25 16:30:29, Kosova & Bota CNA

A day after Washington said 3,000 North Korean troops had been sent to Russia, the Pentagon criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the decision showed his "desperation".

"Russia has over 500,000 battlefield casualties in Ukraine/ This really underscores Putin's desperation because he has failed to meet his strategic objectives on the battlefield," says Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh.

The lower house of the Russian parliament, the Duma, approved the "comprehensive strategic partnership" agreement that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a visit to Pyongyang in June. The upper house is expected to approve the deal soon.

President Putin said on Friday that it was up to Moscow and Pyongyang to decide whether to use North Korean troops on the battlefield. He stressed that if Ukraine wants to join NATO, then Moscow has the right to take all measures to guarantee its security.

"We are holding talks with our North Korean friends with whom we have the same attitude. It is our sovereign decision whether to use North Korean troops or not, where and how. Maybe we just do some military exercises, exchange experiences... It's up to us what we do," says President Putin.

According to the agreement, Russia and North Korea must immediately provide mutual military assistance using "all means" if either of them is attacked. This is the most important agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.

Ukraine's military intelligence service said the first North Korean units trained in Russia were stationed in the Kursk region, a Russian border region that was seized by Ukrainian forces in August.

"If North Korean soldiers are sent to war, Pyongyang participates in the war. This is a very serious matter," said Sabrina Singh, Pentagon spokeswoman.

Ms Singh also announced the involvement of US troops in an Iraqi-led operation against Islamic State (ISIS) fighters in Iraq's Anbar province. The Pentagon, she said, is not aware of any casualties among US troops.

She also briefed the press on a joint strike by US and Iraqi troops earlier this week that killed several leaders of the Islamic State in Iraq. During this operation, two American soldiers were injured.

Ms. Singh said that the soldiers are in stable condition and are being treated at the Walter Reed National Military Center, near Washington./ VOA