
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) is pressing the Biden administration for answers after reports emerged that North Korea may be sending troops to Russia for potential deployment in Ukraine. Turner described the situation as a “red line” and urged President Biden to take immediate action to prevent a wider conflict in the region.
In a letter addressed to Biden, Turner called the possible movement of North Korean forces into Ukraine “an extreme escalation” and warned that the involvement of North Korean troops could dramatically worsen the war. “North Korean troops, either attacking Ukraine from Russian territory or entering into Ukrainian territory, must be a red line for the United States and NATO,” Turner wrote, calling for swift U.S. and NATO responses if such actions occur.
According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, approximately 1,500 North Korean special forces have been deployed to Russia’s Far East, where they are reportedly preparing to fight for Russia in Ukraine. The report claims that these troops would be equipped with Russian weapons, uniforms, and even false identities to avoid direct attribution.
Turner expressed frustration that the Biden administration has not briefed lawmakers on the potential for increased conflict involving North Korean forces. “The administration has not briefed the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence or the House Armed Services Committee of any assessments by U.S. intelligence agencies or the Department of Defense regarding these troop movements,” Turner said. He is demanding an immediate classified briefing to understand the scale of the threat.
This deployment would mark North Korea’s most significant military involvement since the Korean War, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused North Korea of planning to send an additional 10,000 soldiers to assist Russia. With these developments, the stakes in the ongoing conflict are reaching new levels, drawing concerns from U.S. lawmakers and international leaders alike.