US says Russia escalated Ukraine conflict by deploying North Koreans

WASHINGTON - The United States said on Monday it was Russia that is escalating the conflict in Ukraine by deploying North Korean troops, after the Kremlin warned that Washington would deepen its involvement in the war by allowing Kyiv's forces to strike far into Russia with U.S.-made weapons.

State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller in a briefing declined to confirm that the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden had decided to allow the strikes, but reiterated that the U.S. "will always adapt and adjust the capabilities we provide to Ukraine when it's appropriate to do so."

Reuters reported on Sunday that the Biden administration has decided to allow Ukraine to conduct the strikes, a move U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity said was a response to the presence of North Korean troops in the conflict.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the outgoing administration was adding fuel to the fire and seeking to escalate the conflict in Ukraine.

"It has been Russia that has escalated the conflict time and time again," Miller said, pointing to the 11,000 North Korean troops the U.S. says have been deployed and have clashed with Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region.

"That is a major escalation by Russia bringing in an Asian military to a conflict inside Europe," Miller said, adding that the U.S. response would be firm. "We will continue to do what is appropriate to hold Russia accountable for its actions, including its escalatory actions, and to hold North Korea accountable for its escalatory actions." REUTERS