WASHINGTON, November 13. /TASS/. The US administration believes that North Korean troops are participating in combat against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s borderline Kursk Region, US State Department Deputy Spokesman Vedant Patel said at a news briefing.

According to him, purportedly, "over 10,000 DPRK soldiers have been sent to eastern Russia." He claimed that "most of them have moved to the far western Kursk Oblast, where they have begun engaging in combat operations with Russian forces."

Patel also insisted that "Russian forces have trained the DPRK soldiers in artillery, in UAV, and basic infantry operations, including trench clearing, which are critical skills for frontline operations."

Commenting on the "satellite images" published by Seoul the other day, which allegedly indicate the presence of military personnel from North Korea in Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin called this "a serious matter." However, he shot back by saying that NATO military personnel have long been directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict. Putin pointed out that the Strategic Partnership Agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang has a clause on joint defense.

On October 31, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stressed that the US, claiming the North Korean presence in the context of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, points out that it has no proof for such statements. Therefore, the Kremlin does not comment on such speculations.

A massive attack on the Kursk Region by the Ukrainian army was launched on August 6. A federal emergency situation regime has been declared in the region, as well as multiple air raid alerts.

Residents from borderline districts are being evacuated to safety. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, since the onset of military actions in the Kursk area, the Kiev regime has lost over 29,600 troops and 184 tanks. The operation on clearing out Ukrainian armed formations continues.