Seoul: Some 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed in Russia, with a "considerable" number of them having been dispatched to front-line areas, South Korea's defense ministry said Tuesday. The deployment has raised concerns about potential combat involvement in Russia's western border region of Kursk. According to Yonhap News Agency, Jeon Ha-kyou, a spokesperson at South Korea's defense ministry, addressed the situation during a press briefing. Jeon confirmed that more than 10,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia and that a significant portion of them have moved to front-line areas, including Kursk. While Jeon did not provide new information about the troops' activities, he emphasized that South Korea's military and intelligence authorities are closely monitoring the developments. On Monday, a U.S. State Department spokesperson reported that as many as 10,000 North Korean troops were in the Kursk region and may engage in combat in the near future.