About 11,000 North Korean troops are likely to have moved into Russia's Kursk region, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told a news conference.
The Pentagon has not confirmed that these troops have engaged in fighting with Ukrainian forces located inside parts of the Kursk region, she said, adding: "They are moving to Kursk for a reason. We expect them to be involved in combat operations."
There is no evidence of more North Korean troops entering Russia, but that could change, Singh said.
The United States considers North Korea to be Russia's comrade-in-arms, she said. North Korean troops began entering Russia last month.
During the course of the presidential agreements, the United States has supplied weapons to Ukraine, including Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS.
These systems are expensive and their supplies are limited, so the U.S. will not exhaust its reserves because it must consider its own readiness, Singh said.
The Russians have moved their airports out of ATACMS range, she said.
The maximum range of ATACMS is about 190 miles.
"The Ukrainians have very effectively demonstrated the ability to use their own capabilities, such as drones, to target ... weapons depots beyond the range of ATACMS," she said, referring to drones.
Russian losses now average about 1,200 a day, she noted.
Pentagon/ gnews - RoZ_07