STORY: :: The United States says it has seen evidence that

"We assess that between early to mid-October, North Korea moved at least 3,000 soldiers into eastern Russia. We assess that these soldiers traveled by ship from the Wonsan area in North Korea to Vladivostok, Russia. These soldiers then traveled onward to multiple Russian military training sites in eastern Russia, where they are currently undergoing training. We do not yet know whether these soldiers will enter into combat alongside the Russian military, but this is a certain certainly a highly concerning probability. After completing training, these soldiers could travel to western Russia and then engage in combat against the Ukrainian military. We have briefed the Ukrainian government on our understanding of this situation and we're certainly consulting closely with other allies, partners and countries in the region on the implications of such a dramatic move and on how we might respond."

The United States has assessed that at least 3,000 North Korean troops were transported by ship to the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok in early-to-mid October.

Then, they were taken to multiple military sites in eastern Russia, where they have been undergoing training, Kirby said.

The Kremlin has dismissed previous claims about North Korean troop deployment as "fake news" and a North Korean representative to the United Nations in New York called it "groundless rumors" at a meeting on Monday.