North Korean troops move into Kursk as Russia pushes to regain territory lost to Ukraine in August

“We believe that the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] has sent around 10,000 soldiers in total to train in eastern Russia that will probably augment Russian forces near Ukraine over the next several weeks,” Sabrina Singh, deputy press secretary, told reporters at the Pentagon Monday. “A portion of those soldiers have already moved closer to Ukraine, and we are increasingly concerned that Russia intends to use these soldiers in combat or to support combat operations against Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk Oblast near the border with Ukraine.”

The first word that the North Korean troops were preparing to augment Russian troops came from NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte after a closed-door meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, where a South Korean delegation shared their latest intelligence on the troop movements.

“I can confirm that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia and that North Korean military units have been deployed to the Kursk region,” Rutte said. “The deployment of North Korean troops represents: One, a significant escalation in the DPRK’s ongoing involvement in Russia’s illegal war. Two, yet another breach of U.N. Security Council resolutions. And three, a dangerous expansion of Russia’s war.”

U.S. CALLS ON CHINA TO INTERVENE: So far, Ukraine reported no contact with North Korean forces, although its Main Military Intelligence Directorate said North Korean military personnel have been tracked moving along a highway in the Kursk region in vehicles with civilian license plates, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

Russian forces have managed to take back nearly half of the more than 400 square miles of Russian territory Ukraine captured in August, according to the New York Times. If it can push Ukrainian forces back across the border, it would be a huge psychological blow to Kyiv and undercut Ukraine’s leverage in any future negotiations.

“We have communicated with the PRC about this matter to make clear that we are concerned about it and that they ought to be concerned about this destabilizing action by two of its neighbors, Russia and North Korea,” Miller said. “We have been making clear to China for some time that they have an influential voice in the region, and they should be concerned about steps that Russia has taken to undermine stability. They should be concerned about steps that North Korea has taken to undermine stability and security. And we’ll continue to make that clear to them.”

SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON: Tomorrow, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with his South Korean counterpart Kim Yong-hyun at the Pentagon for the annual US-ROK Security Consultative Meeting. On Thursday, Austin and Kim will join Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterpart Foreign Affairs Minister Cho Tae-yul for the “2+2” US-ROK Foreign and Defense Ministerial at the State Department.

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Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre (@jamiejmcintyre) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie. Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre.

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TRUMP: ‘I AM THE OPPOSITE OF A NAZI’: With Election Day now one week away, former President Donald Trump is pushing back against all the attacks from Democrats and the Harris campaign that he is a dangerous autocrat who poses a threat to American democracy in the same way Adolf Hitler created Nazi Germany in the 1930s.“They use: ‘He’s Hitler,’ and then they say ‘He’s a Nazi,’” Trump said at a rally at Georgia Tech in Atlanta. “I’m not a Nazi. I’m the opposite of a Nazi.”

“My father used to tell me, ‘Don’t use the word. Don’t ever use the word Nazi.’ It’s incredible, now the way they talk is so disgusting, and it’s just horrible the way they talk,” Trump told the crowd. “They’ve called me everything from a mad genius looking to take over the world to a very, very stupid person. I’ve covered from stupid to mad genius that will eventually succeed in taking over the world.”

POLISH PRESIDENT: TRUMP IS THE ‘EMBODIMENT OF THE AMERICAN HERO’: In an interview with the British newspaper The Sunday Times, Polish President Andrzej Duda had high praise for Donald Trump and told his fellow NATO allies to be ready to up their game if he returns to the White House.

“He will certainly demand greater participation from the allies, as he believes that the United States cannot bear the cost of securing the entire world,” Duda said. “I remember how President Donald Trump spoke to us at NATO summits, in closed-door meetings, and what tough rhetoric he used at that time. In Europe, not everyone is used to that, and politicians in general are not used to doing politics that way.”

During Trump’s first term, Duda was the first European leader to forge an instant rapport with Trump, buying billions of dollars of U.S. weapons, including F-35 fighter jets, and convincing Trump to station several thousand American troops in Poland, while supporting Trump’s push for NATO allies to spend more on their defense.

Duda told the Sunday Times that Trump showed no signs of cognitive decline in their conversations and described him as the “embodiment of the American hero.” But there did appear to be one point of departure with Trump, and that was on his apparent intent to pressure Ukraine to cede territory to Russia to end the war.

“If you are so generous to Russia, why not give her a piece of your country? Why should any sovereign country satisfy Russia? Let me ask, on what basis does Russia deserve anything — especially someone else’s territory?” Duda said, in what appeared to be a rebuke of Western leaders who have been suggesting Ukraine should make territorial concessions to Russia.

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THE RUNDOWN:

Washington Examiner: Ceasefire negotiators meet despite Hamas leadership void

Washington Examiner: IDF captures 100 Hamas militants in north Gaza hospital

Washington Examiner: Israel bans UNRWA from operating within its borders

Washington Examiner: Iran sends mixed messages over how to respond to Israel attack

AP: North Korea sends foreign minister to Russia as its troops train to fight in Ukraine

AP: US Approves $2 Billion in Arms Sales to Taiwan Including Advanced Missile Defense System

Bloomberg: Taiwan Moves to Buy 1,000 AeroVironment, Anduril Attack Drones

Wall Street Journal: Israel’s Strike on Iran Also Hit Russian Arms Industry’s Once-Strong Image

AP: Palestinian officials say death toll from Israeli strike in northern Gaza climbs to 60

Breaking Defense: Israel Signs $500 Million Deal to Expand Iron Beam Laser Air Defenses

The Times: A new Iron Curtain could protect us from Putin, says Polish president

AP: Yemen’s Houthi rebels target ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off Red Sea

Air & Space Forces Magazine: AI ‘Will Enhance’ Nuclear Command and Control, Says STRATCOM Boss

Defense One: White House Targets US Investments in Chinese AI and Quantum Tech

Air & Space Forces Magazine: NGAD Review to Finish Before End of Year, Allvin Says

Defense News: US Space Force Sees Surge in Foreign Military Sales Demand

Aviation Week: Lockheed Martin Lobbies for Larger UK F-35 Buy

Breaking Defense: Space Force Scrambling to Get GPS Ground System Upgrades Done by 2025

Air & Space Forces Magazine: Still Delivering … After All These Years 

SpaceNews: Satellite Servicing Industry Faces Uncertain Military Demand

New York Times: Opinion: ‘They Would Never Be Doing This Under Trump’: Two G.O.P. Foreign Policy Experts on What a Second Term Would Mean for the World

National Security Journal: China’s H-20: The Great Stealth Bomber Unknown

National Security Journal: F-21: The F-16 Fighter on ‘Steroids’ That Could Fly for India

National Security Journal: Philly Shipyard’s Transformation: How Hanwha’s Investment Is Driving U.S. Navy Readiness

National Security Journal: How the EU is Breaking Free from Russian Energy Dependency

National Security Journal: South Korea’s New KF-21 Fighter Will Be Worth the Wait

TUESDAY | OCTOBER 29

8:50 a.m. 900 South Orme St., Arlington, Virginia — Institute for Defense and Government 2024 Defense Logistics and Support Conference, with  Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly, director, Defense Logistics Agency https://www.idga.org/events-defense-logistics

9 a.m. —  Washington Post Live virtual discussion: “Lessons in Service, Resilience and Leadership from the Nation Veterans, with Deputy Veterans Affairs Secretary Tanya Bradsher; Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland, superintendent, U.S. Military Academy at West Point; Jack McCain, CEO, Blue Sky Vantage, McCain Institute board member, Navy veteran and son of late Senator John McCain (R-AZ); Allison Jaslow, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America; and Graciela Tiscareno-Sato, CEO and founder, Gracefully Global Group https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live

9 a.m. 300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — SAP 2024 Federal Forum with the theme “Bring Out Your Best in Serving the Nation,” with Former U.S. and International Forces in Afghanistan Commander retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, CEO and chairman, McChrystal Group; and Traci Di Martini, IRS chief human capital officer; Jessica Palatka, Commerce Department chief human capital officer; and Darnita Trower, IRS acting deputy chief information officer for operations, participate in a discussion: “Navigating the Future: Strategies for Government Workforce Readiness” RSVP:, [email protected]

9:30 a.m. 14th and F Sts. NW — National Press Club discussion: “State of America veterans and their families,”  with Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough https://www.press.org/events/npc-headliners-veterans-affairs-secretary-denis-mcdonough

11 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies “Impossible State Podcast” virtual discussion: “Crossing the Rubicon: North Korea Sends Troops to Russia,” with Dennis Wilder, senior fellow at Georgetown University Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues; Mark Cancian, senior adviser, CSIS International Security Program; Maria Snegovaya, senior fellow at the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program; Victor Cha, CSIS Korea chair; and H. Andrew Schwartz, CSIS chief communications officer https://www.csis.org/events/crossing-rubicon-north-korea-sends-troops-russia

11:15 a.m. 1700 Army Navy Dr., Arlington, Virginia — D.C. Chapter, National Defense Industrial Association Senior Defense Leaders Forum, with Joint Staff Logistics Director Vice Adm. Dion English https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-10-29-ndia-dc-srdlf-t-vice-adm-english

12 p.m. 700 Pennsylvania Ave. SE — Washington Space Business Roundtable discussion:”New financing tools to support space technologies,” with Jason Rathje, director, Defense Department Office of Strategic Capital https://wsbr.org/event/wsbr-october-luncheon-with-dr-jason-rathje-osc/

12 p.m. — Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft virtual book discussion: Neutrality After 1989, with editor Naman Karl-Thomas Habtom https://quincyinst.org/events/neutrality-after-1989/

12 p.m. — New America virtual book discussion: The Siege: A Six-Day Hostage Crisis and the Daring Special-Forces Operation That Shocked the World,” focusing on the 1980 siege, Iranian embassy in London,  with author Ben Macintyre, writer-at-large at The Times newspaper https://www.newamerica.org/future-security/events/the-siege

5 p.m. 1521 16th St. NW — Institute of World Politics discussion: “Towards a New Equilibrium: Strategic Deterrence on the Taiwan Strait Crisis, with Jason Hsu, Hudson Institute visiting fellow https://www.iwp.edu/towards-a-new-equilibrium

WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 30

8:50 a.m. 900 South Orme St., Arlington, Virginia — Institute for Defense and Government 2024 Defense Logistics and Support Conference, with Carla Zeppieri, deputy assistant secretary of defense  for industrial base resilience remarks on “Industrial Base Policy for Resilience” https://www.idga.org/events-defense-logistics

9:30 a.m. —  Henry Stimson Center virtual discussion: “Assessing Global Arms Trade Transparency,” with Robert in den Bosch, disarmament ambassador and permanent representative to the Conference on Disarmament, Kingdom, Netherlands in Geneva; Carina Solmirano, project lead at the Arms Trade Treaty Monitor; Claudia Garcia, political affairs officer for conventional arms at the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs; and Rachel Stohl, director, Stimson Conventional Defense Program https://www.stimson.org/event/assessing-global-arms-trade-transparency/

10 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual book discussion: “Space Warfare: Strategy, Principles and Policy,”  with author John Klein, adjunct professor at George Washington University Space Policy Institute and senior fellow at Falcon Research Inc. https://www.csis.org/events/space-warfare-virtual-book-talk-dr-john-j-klein

11 a.m. —  Center for a New American Security virtual discussion: “Quality of Life for Service Members and their Families,” with Ronald Keohane, assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs; Brendan Owens, assistant secretary of defense  for energy, installations, and environment; and Katherine Kuzminski, deputy director of studies and director, CNAS Military, Veterans, and Society Program https://www.cnas.org/events/virtual-event-quality-of-life-for-service

12 p.m. — Washington Post Live virtual discussion: “The election security landscape in 2024 contest,” with Jen Easterly, director, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live

1 p.m. — Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft virtual discussion: beginning at 1 p.m., on “What is the Future, Axis of Resistance?,” focusing on Hezbollah, Iran-aligned militias in Iraq, Assad-led Syria, the Houthis, Hamas and Yemen, with Narges Bajoghli, assistant professor of Middle East studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies; Adam Weinstein, deputy director, Quincy Institute Middle East Program; Nir Rosen, author of Aftermath: Following the Bloodshed of America Wars in the Muslim World; and Steven Simon, senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute https://quincyinst.org/events/what-is-the-future-of-the-axis-of-resistance/

1 p.m. —  Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “Implementing the National Defense Industrial Strategy,” with Laura Taylor-Kale, assistant secretary of defense  for industrial base policy https://www.csis.org/events/implementing-national-defense-industrial-strategy

2 p.m. —  Government Executive Media Group; and UiPath virtual discussion: “Enabling the Future of Army Modernization,” with Army CIO Leonel Garciga; Maj. Gen. Jake Kwon, director of strategic operations at Army Headquarters; Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. John Morrison; and former Assistant Secretary of Defense  for Sustainment Jordan Gillis, federal engagement executive at UiPath https://events.govexec.com/uipath-enabling-the-future-of-army-modernization

2 p.m. 1030 15th St. NW — Atlantic Council discussion: “Geopolitics and the Next US President,” with House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH); Helima Croft, managing director and global head of commodity strategy,  RBC Capital Markets; and Frederick Kempe, Atlantic Council CEO and president https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/elections-2024

3 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “The Global Terrorism Landscape,” with Brett Holmgren, acting director, National Counterterrorism Center https://www.csis.org/events/global-terrorism-landscape

THURSDAY | OCTOBER 31

12 p.m. 1957 E St. NW — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs discussion: “What Drives the Sino-Russian Partnership Regime Insecurity, Aggressive Overreach, and the Alignment between Moscow and Beijing,’ with Aleksandar Matovski, assistant professor at the Naval Postgraduate School https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/what-drives-the-sino-russian-partnership

1 p.m. —  Washington Post Live virtual discussion: “Lawmakers on Bipartisan Effort to Safeguard the 2024 Presidential Election,” with Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE); and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) https://www.washingtonpost.com/washington-post-live

1 p.m. 37th and O Sts. NW — American Institute for Contemporary German Studies discussion: “German and U.S. Relations with Israel amid Escalating Conflict in the Middle East,” with Christoph Heusgen, chairman, Munich Security Conference; and Aaron David Miller, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace senior fellow https://americangerman.institute/events/2024/10/german-and-u-s-relations-with-israel

3 p.m. 1789 Massachusetts Ave. NW — American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research discussion with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin;  and Kori Schake, AEI director of foreign and defense policy studies https://www.aei.org/events/a-fireside-chat-with-the-chief-of-staff

FRIDAY | NOVEMBER 1

7 p.m. 800 21st St. NW — Politics and Prose Bookstore book discussion: War, with author Bob Woodward, Washington Post associate editor