North Korean soldiers deployed to Kursk "legitimate targets" for Ukrainian military: US

Addressing a press briefing on Monday (local time), the US Department of State spokesperson Matthew Miller said that North Korean soldiers entered a war and as such they are "legitimate targets" for the Ukrainian military.

When asked about Ukraine's statement on North Korean soldiers casualty in Kursk and whether they are becoming legitimate targets, Miller said, "So, in our view, the North Korean soldiers who were deployed to Kursk are already legitimate targets. They entered a war, and they are, as such, combatants and are legitimate targets for the Ukrainian military."

"We have seen North Korean soldiers who have been killed in action on the battlefield inside Russia. And if they were to cross the border into Ukraine, that would be yet another escalation by the Government of Russia and also an escalation by the Government of North Korean to send North Korean troops to prosecute a war of aggression against an independent, sovereign nation inside that nation's borders. That would absolutely be an escalation by the Government of North Korea," he added.

Miller's statement comes after Ukraine said on Monday that North Korean soldiers fighting along with Russian soldiers suffered heavy losses during fighting in Russia's Kursk region at the weekend.

Matthew Miller noted that US imposed additional sanctions to disrupt military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and vowed to continue taking appropriate measures to address US' concerns with that cooperation.

When asked about US' response to North Korea and Russia's military cooperation, Matthew Miller responded, "So, you have seen the United States just today impose additional sanctions to disrupt military cooperation between the DPRK and Russia. We also, in recent days, issued a foreign ministerial joint statement with the G7, and we will continue to take appropriate measures to address our concerns with that unprecedented cooperation."

North Korean units that arrived in Kursk in November were involved in assaults near three villages during the weekend, according to Ukraine's defense intelligence service, CNN reported.

It further said that some 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or injured in the fighting and three went missing during clashes near Plekhovo, Vorozhba and Martynovka villages close to the border.

Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder said on Monday that North Korean soldiers had suffered casualites in Kursk, according to CNN report. Ryder said, "We do assess that North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat in Kursk, with Russia, alongside Russian forces." He stated, "We do have indications that they have suffered casualties, both killed and wounded."

He refused to reveal details regarding the number of casualties but added that they have been integrated into Russian units and are primarily being used "in an infantry role." He said that North Korean troops started actively fighting alongside Russia a little over a week ago.

Pat Ryder further said, "As we've said all along, those forces are legitimate military targets for the Ukrainians given that they are engaged in active combat ops."

Separately, a Ukrainian frontline drone unit shared a video on Sunday to show the bodies of over 20 North Korean soldiers lined up in an icy field, according to CNN report. The quality of the video was not good enough to confirm their identity. (ANI)