U.S. officials announced that approximately 8,000 North Korean troops now stationed in Russia's Kursk region are preparing for combat in Ukraine. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned that their involvement would make them legitimate targets for Ukraine. The troops have undergone training in artillery and other military operations. Meanwhile, the U.S. and its allies express concerns over the escalating military partnership between North Korea and Russia, considering it destabilizing in the region. As tensions rise further, Ukraine's President Zelensky indicated the deployment is a test for international responses.