There are 10,000 North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia's Kursk Oblast, and the Pentagon's press secretary said if they go into combat they would be legitimate targets for Ukrainian soldiers.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder also said officials estimated there were 11,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops currently in Russia. “We have seen the press reports about alleged (North Korean) combat operations and are reviewing them,” Ryder told reporters during a news conference. “At this time we cannot confirm these reports. But as you heard (Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III) say last week, these troops would become legitimate military targets if they participated in combat support missions against Ukraine.”

North Korean troops invaded Russia last month, and Russian troops are training those forces in infantry tactics, the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, artillery tactics, clearing trenches and the like, officials said. “All indications are that they will provide some sort of combat or combat support capability,” the general said. “We fully expect the Ukrainians to do what they need to do to defend themselves and their personnel.”

The Russians have provided North Korean troops with Russian uniforms and equipment.

“We will see exactly how these forces will be integrated into Russian operations and how they will be used on the battlefield, assuming they replace Russian forces,” he said.

Ryder referred to Austin's comments last week about the large number of casualties suffered by Russian forces. North Korean forces could intervene “to replace the massive losses suffered by Russia. I think that’s probably a fair assessment, and I certainly don’t want to be a North Korean soldier there.”

Ryder also discussed stationing additional U.S. forces in the Central Command region. Austin ordered additional ballistic missile destroyers, fighter squadrons, tankers and several B-52 long-range bombers to the area.

The B-52 bombers have already arrived in the region, along with other forces expected in the coming days and weeks. “These forces will arrive as the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group prepares for departure,” Ryder said. “These operations are consistent with our commitments to protect U.S. citizens and forces in the Middle East, defend Israel, and de-escalate through deterrence and diplomacy.”

These forces join other U.S. forces, such as the High Altitude Missile Defense System deployed in Israel, as well as an amphibious task force and a Marine expeditionary unit. These forces “demonstrate the flexibility of the U.S. global defense posture and its ability to deploy around the world at short notice to address evolving national security threats,” Ryder said. “Secretary Austin continues to make clear that if Iran, its partners, or its proxies use this moment to target American personnel or interests in the region, the United States will take all necessary actions to defend our people.”