US defense secretary cites evidence that North Korea sent troops to Russia

On the Ukraine crisis, China's position is consistent and clear. We hope all parties will promote the deescalation of the situation and strive for a political settlement,

China's U.S. Embassy told Newsweek on Thursday, echoing previous comments made by Lin Jian of Beijing's Foreign Ministry on Thursday

On the situation on the Korean Peninsula, we hope that relevant parties will face squarely the crux of the Korean Peninsula issue and play a constructive role for deescalating tensions, advancing dialogue and upholding peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula,

Newsweek was told

I think that the North Korea move is a big part of that, frankly,

Bremmer said

If the North Koreans are actually sending troops to fight with the Russians, then clearly the level of Russian willingness to support North Korea, to help defend North Korea, is going to be equivalent,

he told NBC News in an interview Thursday

They were saying things like, ‘Well, the Kremlin told us that this was going to be done in a few weeks,’ and it isn’t,

Bremmer said

Ian Bremmerpolitical scientist

I think they’re very uncomfortable with it,

said Ian Bremmer, founder and president of Eurasia Group, a consulting firm based in New York

North Korea's actual involvement in combat should not be met with indifference or uncertain commentary, but with tangible pressure on both Moscow and Pyongyang,

he added

Russia never doubted that the DPRK is serious about Russian cooperation, we are in cooperation with our North Korean friends,

Putin said after hosting a summit of emerging economies

According to intelligence reports, on Oct. 27-28 , Russia will use the first North Korean military in combat zones,

the Ukrainian leader said on social media, calling for "tangible pressure" to be placed on Russia and North Korea

If one of the Parties is subjected to an armed attack by any state or several states and thus finds itself in a state of war, the other party will immediately provide military and other assistance with all means at its disposal."

Article 4 of the agreement says

The sooner they realise the futility of such an approach in relations with Russia, the better it will be for everyone, and perhaps, above all, for themselves,

Putin said

When we have to decide something, we will decide... but it is our sovereign decision whether we will apply it, whether we will not, whether we need it,

Putin told Russian state television

The world can clearly see what Russia truly wants: for the war to continue. This is why a principled and strong response from global leaders is essential. The actual involvement of North Korea in combat operations must be met with tangible pressure on both Moscow and Pyongyang to uphold the UN Charter and to penalise this escalation, rather than with blind eyes and confused comments."

Quote from Zelenskyy

The messaging we are seeing is likely intended to deter the actual deployment of North Korean troops to Ukraine from Russia. We don't know how that will play out, just yet,

said Naoko Aoki, a political scientist at American policy think tank RAND

I do not foresee the Yoon administration approving the deployment of troops for actual combat operations on Ukrainian soil,

said Nah Liang Tuang, a research fellow at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

Russia's potential training and deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine marks another critical stage in the conflict, but it will not bring about a wider global war,

said James Rogers, the director of research at the U.K.-based Council on Geostrategy think tank

I see this as a sign of desperation as well as a shocking escalation on North Korea's front,

Healey said

Dmitry Peskovkremlin spokesman

North Korea is our close neighbor, our partner, and we are developing our relations in all areas. This is our sovereign right,

Peskov said in remarks reported by Russian state media

We have adhered to a principle of not directly supplying lethal weapons, but we can review this more flexibly depending on North Korean military activities,

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Thursday, according to the country's Yonhap news agency

It appears that they disguised themselves as Russian soldiers,

the NIS said