Any North Korean troops sent to fight in Ukraine would be subject to harsh measures to ensure they do not desert, observers have said.
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There are growing reports of a mass North Korean deployment in support of Russian troops.
On Wednesday, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said “there is evidence” that North Korean troops were training in Russia.
Scattered reports have claimed that smaller numbers of North Korean troops are already in Ukraine.
Ukrainian outlets Suspilne and Hromadske reported some early desertions, citing anonymous sources.
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Business Insider could not independently confirm the reports, and Ukraine’s military-defence agency did not respond to a request for comment.