Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III confirmed on Wednesday that North Korea had sent troops to Russia to join the fight against Ukraine, a major shift in Moscow’s effort to win the war. Mr. Austin called the North’s presence a “very serious” escalation that would have ramifications in both Europe and Asia.

The US has for the first time confirmed the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to Russia, with the US defence secretary calling it a “very serious” potential escalation in the war 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.