North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Ukraine would be “fair game,” the White House says

North Korean troops deployed to fight for Russia against Ukraine are “fair game,” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on October 23.

Previously, the US had publicly confirmed for the first time that it had evidence of Pyongyang's sending soldiers to Russia, following earlier reports from Ukraine and South Korea.

Kiev and Seoul say Moscow plans to involve thousands of North Korean troops in its large-scale war.

“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.

“And so the possibility that there could be dead and wounded North Korean soldiers if they are deployed is absolutely real.”

Kirby also revealed details of U.S. intelligence assessments, saying Washington believes North Korea has “deployed at least 3,000 troops to eastern Russia.”

“We believe that these soldiers traveled by ship from the Van region in North Korea to Vladivostok in Russia,” he said, adding: “These soldiers then traveled on to several Russian military training areas in eastern Russia where they are currently training become.”

Kirby said it was too early to say with certainty whether they will “go into battle alongside the Russian military,” but added that it was a “highly concerning probability.”

“We have informed the Ukrainian government of our understanding of this situation, and we are certainly consulting extensively with other allies, partners and countries in the region about the implications of such a dramatic step and how we might respond,” he said.

“I expect to have more to say about all of this in the coming days.”

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Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR), said the first North Korean units were expected to arrive in Kursk Oblast on October 23. Ukraine began a cross-border advance in August and still holds significant territory there.

In early October, Budanov said the first group would consist of 2,600 soldiers.

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

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.