China “doesn’t know” that North Korean troops in Russia are preparing to fight in Ukraine

China said on Oct. 24 it had “no knowledge” of North Korean troops in Russia preparing to join Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Beijing Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made the statement even though the United States, Seoul and Kyiv had all confirmed their presence in recent days.

Asked at a daily news conference whether China had seen evidence of North Korean troops in Russia, Jin said: “The Chinese side is not aware of the situation.”

“China's position on the Ukraine crisis has been consistent and clear, and we hope that all parties will promote de-escalation of the situation and work for a political solution,” the spokesman added in comments reported by Reuters.

On October 23, the United States publicly confirmed for the first time that it had evidence of Pyongyang's deployment of soldiers to Russia, following earlier reports from Ukraine and South Korea.

Later that day, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said North Korean troops deployed to fight for Russia against Ukraine were “fair game.”

“If they are used to fight Ukraine, they are fair game, they are fair targets, and the Ukrainian military will defend itself against North Korean soldiers in the same way that it defends itself against Russian soldiers,” Kirby told a press briefing White House.

Two North Korean brigades, each with up to 6,000 troops, are currently being trained in Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on October 22.

According to military intelligence, some North Korean officers are already in the occupied territories of Ukraine, he said on October 17.

North Korea has denied the reports, while a Kremlin spokesman gave an evasive response to the matter.

A military intelligence source told the Kyiv Independent on October 21 that Russian authorities had arrested 18 North Korean soldiers who had left their positions in Kursk Oblast. Video footage was also circulated that allegedly showed North Korean troops in a Russian military training camp.

South Korean media reported on October 22 that Pyongyang had sent pilots capable of piloting Russian warplanes to join the war in Ukraine.

The South Korean agency Yonhap also said that South Korea is considering sending personnel to Ukraine to monitor North Korean troops.