Michael R. Turner, chairman of the U.S. Special Committee on Intelligence, said that if North Korea were to join Russia’s war in Ukraine, the United States would “seriously consider taking direct military action against the North Korean military.” “Should.”
In a statement on October 23, Turner, the Republican leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, called on Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration to “make clear” that it would be a “dangerous act” for North Korea to join Moscow in a full-scale invasion. I asked for it. This is the line to the US. ”
Earlier, the United States publicly acknowledged for the first time that it had evidence that North Korean troops were stationed in Russia, with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin saying it was “not yet known” whether North Korean troops would participate in combat. Ta.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on October 22 that two North Korean brigades of up to 6,000 people each are currently undergoing training in Russia.
“Now that Secretary Austin has finally acknowledged that North Korean troops are stationed in Russia in preparation for entering the conflict with Ukraine, the Biden-Harris administration has confirmed that North Korean military participation in this conflict is beyond the reach of the United States. We have to make it clear that there are no red lines,” Turner said. .
“If North Korean forces invade the sovereign territory of Ukraine, the United States should seriously consider taking direct military action against North Korean forces.”
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Turner’s comments are the strongest yet by a U.S. politician on the issue, and come two weeks before Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris, faces off against Republican Donald Trump. I cut it.
Trump, who is seeking a return to the presidency, has expressed goodwill toward Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioned future U.S. military aid to Ukraine, while insisting he could broker a quick peace deal.
And as rhetoric between Democrats and Republicans intensifies ahead of the hotly contested vote, Mr. Turner has consistently supported Ukraine during Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In February, he was part of a bipartisan delegation that traveled to Kyiv to express solidarity with Ukraine as a military aid bill stalled in Congress due to political infighting.
On October 23, the White House said North Korean troops sent to fight Ukraine on Russia’s behalf were “fair fight.”
U.S. National Security Council: “If they go out to fight Ukraine, they’re fair fight, they’re legitimate targets, and the Ukrainian military defends itself from North Korean soldiers in the same way it defends itself from Russian soldiers.” will protect themselves,” Press Secretary John Kirby said at a White House press briefing.
“Therefore, if North Korean soldiers are sent, there is an absolutely real possibility that there will be deaths and injuries.”
Mr. Kirby also detailed the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment, saying the U.S. government believes North Korea has “moved at least 3,000 soldiers into eastern Russia.”
“We determine that these soldiers traveled by boat from the Wang region of North Korea to Vladivostok, Russia,” he said, adding, “These soldiers then traveled to multiple Russian military bases in eastern Russia. They have been moved to the training ground and are currently undergoing training,” he added.
Kirby said it was too early to say for sure whether Russian forces would “enter combat alongside the Russian military,” but added that the possibility was “very concerning.”
“We have explained to the Ukrainian government our understanding of this situation, and we have communicated with other allies, partners and countries in the region the implications of such a dramatic action and how to respond,” Kirby said. It is certain that we are in close consultation with them.” .
“We look forward to sharing more about all of this in the coming days,” he added.
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