What North Korean Involvement Could Mean for the Russia–Ukraine War

News Analysis The foreign policy community is watching closely for signs that North Korean forces have joined the fighting in Ukraine, following the U.S. government’s announcement that it has seen signs Pyongyang has sent troops to Russia. Addressing reporters in Rome on Oct. 23, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the Pentagon has evidence pointing to a North Korean military presence in Russia. His comments reinforce earlier reports of North Korean troop movements raised by the South Korean and Ukrainian governments. The White House has placed the number of North Korean troops in Russia at more than 3,000, though South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has assessed that as many as 10,000 North Korean troops have deployed there....