Washington: The United States confirmed on Tuesday that North Korean troops, deployed to western Russia, have started engaging in combat operations against Ukraine. This development has raised international concerns about the potential expansion of Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine. According to Yonhap News Agency, Vedant Patel, the principal deputy spokesperson for the State Department, stated during a press briefing that over 10,000 soldiers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have been sent to eastern Russia. Most of these troops have relocated to the far western region of Kursk Oblast, where they are now participating in combat operations alongside Russian forces.