House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) is calling on the Biden administration to respond to reports that North Korean troops may be deployed to Ukraine. In a letter sent to President Biden on Friday, Turner warned that North Korean involvement in the war would mark a major escalation and called for immediate action from the U.S. and NATO.
“These troop movements, if true, are alarming and are an extreme escalation of the conflict in Ukraine,” Turner wrote. He emphasized that North Korean troops crossing into Ukraine or attacking from Russian territory would cross a “red line.”
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reported that 1,500 North Korean special forces have been stationed in Russia’s Far East, where they are training to join Russian forces in Ukraine. These soldiers are reportedly preparing to fight with Russian weapons and fake identification.
Turner criticized the administration for not briefing lawmakers about these developments. He demanded a classified briefing for the House Intelligence and Armed Services Committees to assess the potential threat posed by these troop movements.
North Korea’s support for Russia has been growing, with the regime supplying over 8 million rounds of artillery and missiles since August 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently accused North Korea of preparing to send additional troops to Russia’s aid.
Turner’s concerns highlight the growing complexity of the conflict and the potential for further international involvement if North Korean troops are deployed.