00:00I think as you have all heard earlier this morning, we have seen the public reporting
00:03indicating that North Korean soldiers are traveling to Russia to fight against Ukraine.
00:08We're working closely with our allies and partners to gain a full understanding of this
00:12situation.
00:13But today, I'm prepared to share what we know at this stage.
00:17We assess that between early to mid-October, North Korea moved at least 3,000 soldiers
00:23into eastern Russia.
00:25We assess that these soldiers traveled by ship from the Womsan area in North Korea to
00:30Vladivostok, Russia.
00:33These soldiers then traveled onward to multiple Russian military training sites in eastern
00:37Russia, where they are currently undergoing training.
00:42We do not yet know whether these soldiers will enter into combat alongside the Russian
00:46military, but this is certainly a highly concerning probability.
00:53After completing training, these soldiers could travel to western Russia and then engage
00:58in combat against the Ukrainian military.
01:02We have briefed the Ukrainian Government on our understanding of this situation, and we're
01:05certainly consulting closely with other allies, partners, and countries in the region on the
01:10implications of such a dramatic move and on how we might respond.
01:16But let's be clear.
01:18If North Korean soldiers do enter into combat, this development would demonstrate Russia's
01:22growing desperation in its war against Ukraine.
01:26Russia is suffering extraordinary casualties on the battlefield every single day, but President
01:31Putin appears intent on continuing this war.
01:35If Russia is indeed forced to turn to North Korea for manpower, this would be a sign of
01:39weakness, not strength, on the part of the Kremlin.
01:42It would also demonstrate an unprecedented level of direct military cooperation between
01:47Russia and North Korea, with security implications in Europe as well as the Indo-Pacific.
01:53As we have said before, Russia's cooperation with the North Korean military is in violation
01:58of multiple UN Security Council resolutions which prohibit the procurement of arms from
02:03North Korea and military arms training.
02:07This move is likewise a violation.
02:10The United States is on track to provide Ukraine with hundreds of additional air defense interceptors,
02:15dozens of tactical air defense systems, additional artillery, significant quantities of ammunition,
02:20hundreds of armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, and thousands
02:25of additional armored vehicles, all of which will help keep Ukraine effective on the battlefield.
02:31And in coming days, the United States will announce a significant sanctions tranche targeting
02:35the enablers of Russia's war in Ukraine located outside of Russia.
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