US Urges China to Push North Korea to Recall Troops from Russia

The United States is urging China to press North Korea to recall troops reportedly deployed to Russia, underscoring serious concerns over the strengthening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller raised these issues during a press briefing on Wednesday, stating that Washington is “deeply concerned” North Korean forces in Russia may be receiving combat training, potentially in preparation for deployment in Ukraine.

“We have engaged directly with officials with the Government of China to make quite clear our concerns about this deepening military relationship between Russia and North Korea, and to make clear that we think this ought to be a source of concern for China as well as other countries in the region,” Miller said.

While Miller did not provide details on these discussions, he emphasized that the US is actively communicating its concerns to China.

“We have had very robust conversations with the Government of China about this matter,” he confirmed, refraining from commenting on whether the communication was carried out through the Chinese Embassy in Washington. 

This statement follows intelligence reports from two Western officials indicating that a small number of North Korean soldiers may have already entered Ukraine, with additional troops possibly on the way. These reports suggest North Korean forces are completing training in eastern Russia before moving to the front lines, raising concerns that their presence in Ukraine may soon expand.

In a separate statement, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, speaking alongside South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun at the Pentagon, urged North Korea to withdraw any forces stationed in Russia. Austin warned that this “potentially destabilizing behavior” could worsen security not only in the Indo-Pacific but also in Europe, potentially prolonging and widening the conflict.

“It does have the potential of lengthening the conflict or broadening the conflict if that continues,” Austin remarked, noting reports that North Korea may have sent up to 10,000 soldiers for training in eastern Russia. This large-scale deployment, he said, is indicative of an “unprecedented level of direct military cooperation” between North Korea and Russia. 

The alliance between Russia and North Korea has gained attention since Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in June. During that visit, the two nations signed a defense pact that includes a mutual assistance clause, akin to NATO’s Article V, marking their closest military ties since the Cold War.

This deepening alliance has raised alarm in the West. Facing international sanctions and isolation due to its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has increasingly sought support from North Korea and other allies.