The Pentagon estimates that North Korea has deployed 10 to 12 thousand troops in Russia's Kursk region and warns that the troops would become legitimate military targets, if they "engage in combat support operations against Ukraine.

The Pentagon said on Monday that there were at least 10,000 North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk but could not corroborate reports that they were engaged in combat. Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder said there were indications that the North Korean troops would provide combat or combat support capabilities.