American officials say 8,000 North Korean troops are now in Russia’s Kursk region

U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood revealed during a U.N. Security Council meeting on Thursday that American officials recently learned that 8,000 North Korean soldiers are now present in Russia’s Kursk region.

“And I have a very respectful question for my Russian colleague: Does Russia still maintain that there are no DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] troops in Russia? That’s my only question and final point,” Wood asked. The Russian representative at the council meeting reportedly did not respond to the question and the session was adjourned, reported The Associated Press.

Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence officials have said in recent weeks that they believe as many as 12,000 North Korean troops are being deployed to Russia to reinforce Moscow’s efforts to retake territory Ukraine seized earlier this year in a surprise incursion.

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