N. Korean troops are in Russia, but US unsure of motive

Kyiv believes troops are preparing to fight in war against Ukraine

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ROME - US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said there is evidence that North Korean troops are in Russia, but it remained to be seen what they would be doing there.

Mr Austin said it would "very, very serious" if they are preparing to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine, as Kyiv has alleged.

"There is evidence that there are DPRK troops in Russia," Mr Austin told reporters in Rome on Oct 23, referring to the North by its formal name - the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"What exactly they are doing? Left to be seen. These are things that we need to sort out," he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cited intelligence reports about the preparation of two units with possibly up to 12,000 North Korean troops who would take part in the war alongside Russian forces.