KYIV. Oct 31 (Interfax-Ukraine) – According to the latest data, up to 8,000 troops from the DPRK have been deployed to Kursk region of the Russian Federation; they are expected to take part in military operations in the coming days, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

Blinken said at a press conference with his South Korean counterpart, the Pentagon chief and South Korea’s defense minister in Washington, that according to their estimates there are about 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia, and the latest data suggests that up to 8,000 of them have been deployed to Kursk region. However, they have not yet seen those troops engaged in combat against Ukrainian forces, but they expect that to happen in the coming days.

Blinken noted that Russia is training North Korean soldiers in artillery, drones, and basic infantry operations, including clearing trenches, which shows that it is fully committed to using these forces in frontline operations.