Dayton Reporter

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner has released a statement following confirmation from the Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin regarding North Korean troops being deployed to Russia. Turner addressed concerns over potential involvement in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

In his statement, Turner emphasized, "Now that Secretary Austin has finally acknowledged that North Korean troops are in Russia preparing to enter the conflict with Ukraine, the Biden-Harris Administration must make clear that North Korean troops entering this conflict are a red line for the United States."

Turner expressed criticism towards the current administration's stance on Ukraine's use of U.S. weapons against Russian targets. He stated, "I have long challenged the Biden-Harris Administration’s unwise position on restricting Ukraine’s use of U.S. weapons against targets within Russian territory. If North Korean troops attack Ukraine from Russian territory, Ukraine should be permitted to use American weapons to respond."

He further suggested that any invasion by North Korean forces into Ukrainian sovereign territory might necessitate direct military action from the United States: "If North Korean troops were to invade Ukraine’s sovereign territory, the United States needs to seriously consider taking direct military action against the North Korean troops."

The situation continues to develop as international responses are anticipated.