North Korean troops willing to “fight and die” for Russia are changing the security balance in the Indo-Pacific region

Observers warn that the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia's war effort represents a significant shift in global dynamics as it connects the European and Indo-Pacific security theaters in an unprecedented way.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed on Wednesday that 3,000 troops had been sent to Russia, a development first announced by Ukraine and South Korea that analysts say tilts the war in Moscow's favor and makes the conflict that began in 2022 even more unpredictable could.

The comments came as Pyongyang was also reportedly preparing to send up to 100,000 troops, including 10,000 elite troops, to Russia, in clear violation of international sanctions.

“North Korea's attempt to send tens of thousands of workers to Russia has been exposed,” a senior government official said, adding that the number could eventually reach 100,000, according to SBS-TV.

Sydney Seiler, Korea chair at the Center for Strategies and International Studies (CSIS), said it doesn't matter whether these North Korean personnel work in logistics, construction or special forces, among others.

“Every North Korean soldier who commits to the war frees up a Russian to fight,” Seiler told This Week in Asia.