New york: North Korean soldiers will end up in "body bags" if they enter Ukraine and fight alongside Russia, a U.S. envoy to the United Nations has warned, urging Pyongyang to rethink joining the war against Kyiv. Robert Wood, deputy U.S. ambassador to the U.N., delivered this stark warning to North Korea during a U.N. Security Council meeting, as tensions rose between representatives of the U.S. and its allies, and those of Russia and North Korea over the reported deployment of North Korean troops to Russia. According to Yonhap News Agency, Wood emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, "Should DPRK enter Ukraine, in support of Russia, they will surely return in body bags." He advised North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, to reconsider engaging in what he described as reckless behavior. This warning followed accusations by Kim Song, North Korea's U.N. envoy, who claimed that the United States, South Korea, and their allies are responsible for global instability. Reports from Washington and Seoul h ave confirmed that North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to eastern Russia, potentially for deployment to the front lines in Ukraine. Although Moscow and Pyongyang have not publicly acknowledged this, the Pentagon believes that North Korean soldiers have already started arriving in western Russia, with approximately 10,000 troops training in eastern Russia to support Russian forces near Ukraine in the coming weeks. Despite the ambiguity surrounding the troop dispatch, Kim Song defended North Korea's relationship with Russia, insisting that it adheres to international law and their recent partnership treaty. He stated that any threats to Russian sovereignty and security would compel North Korea to respond accordingly. South Korea's U.N. envoy, Hwang Joon-kook, criticized North Korea's actions, describing the soldiers as "cannon fodder" whose wages would ultimately benefit Kim Jong-un. Hwang expressed dismay at the soldiers' treatment, contrasting their situation with the potential for a better life sout h of the DMZ. He highlighted that North Korea's military support to Moscow violates multiple UNSC resolutions and could alter geopolitical dynamics across Eurasia. Hwang concluded by asserting that South Korea, in collaboration with the international community, would respond firmly to any unlawful military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, taking appropriate measures based on future developments.