The Facts

• US Pres. Joe Biden Tuesday asked Kyiv to strike at North Korean troops "if they go into Ukraine." Without elaborating, Biden expressed concern at the presence of an estimated 10K North Korean troops — some in Russia’s Kursk Oblast — to participate in Moscow's war against Ukraine.

• The Pentagon Monday said Ukraine faced no curbs on using American weapons against North Korean troops if they attacked the Ukrainians. While it didn't confirm their presence in Ukraine, the Pentagon "fully expect[ed]" North Korean troops to be deployed in an infantry role soon.

• Ukraine’s Defense Ministry had last week reported the presence of North Korean military personnel in the Kursk region. Biden had earlier called their deployment in Russia "very dangerous;" NATO had termed it a sign of Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin's "growing desperation."