North Korean Dictator Kim Jong-Un has sent troops to Russia, the Pentagon confirmed Wednesday. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed the troop movement in a statement, saying it would be “a very, very serious issue” if North Korean troops deploy to Ukraine. 

In an interview with Fox News titled “North Korean troops in Russia?” Brian Taylor, professor of political science and director of the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, says, “North Korea and Russia signed a joint military assistance agreement last June and they are pursuing cooperation. North Korea has already been providing Russia with missiles, with artillery, with other support.”

Taylor adds, “So in terms of what North Korea might get in return, I think the big fear is that Russia would be sharing more advanced nuclear technology, perhaps submarine technology or other conventional weapons technology with North Korea. And of course, the training itself and potentially the combat experience might be useful to North Korea which hasn't fought a war since the Korean War ended in 1953.”

In a separate interview, Vice Adm. Robert Murrett (Ret.), professor of practice of public administration and international affairs, tells Fox News, “This kind of reflects the weakness and the manpower challenges that Russia is having in terms of their own army, the kind of acts of desperation since the war started going on three years ago. They've used mercenaries from the Wagner Group and so forth. They have some significant manpower constraints in their troops, their recruiting has not been that good and they're trying to avoid another large-scale conscription which would be very unpopular in Russia.”