Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed Wednesday that the United States has seen “evidence” that North Korean troops have deployed to Russia. Austin is the first U.S. official to confirm reports from Ukrainian and South Korean leaders about the North Korean troop movements.

SEOUL, South Korea — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday there is evidence that North Korea has sent troops to Russia, as South Korea's spy chief told lawmakers that 3,000 North Korean troops are in the country receiving training on drones and other equipment before being deployed to battlefields in Ukraine.

Defense chief Lloyd Austin says the U.S. sees evidence that Kim Jong Un has sent troops to bolster Vladimir Putin's army amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.