North Korean Troops Arrive in Russia 

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that there is evidence that troops from North Korea have been deployed to Russia to support the Ukraine war. 

The Details: South Korean lawmakers said 3,000 soldiers have been sent. It is not yet clear what the soldiers are doing there, but Austin said it would be "very, very serious" if North Korea planned to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine. "It appears that the troops have now been dispersed to multiple training facilities in Russia and are adapting to the local environment," said Park Sun-won, a member of a South Korean parliamentary intelligence committee. According to Ukraine and South Korean intelligence, Pyongyang promised to provide about 10,000 troops by December.

For Context: While South Korea and Ukraine have claimed North Korean troops are in Russia, Russia and North Korea have denied the reports. CNN (Lean Left bias) said, "In recent months, Moscow and Pyongyang have deepened their anti-United States military partnership and the growing alliance has concerned officials in Kyiv and Washington." North Korea has already been providing Russia munitions and artillery shells in exchange for military technology for ballistics and missile programs, according to the U.S.; Russia and North Korea deny it.

How the Media Covered It: Coverage of the story was similar across the spectrum. The Washington Examiner (Lean Right) added that in November, "U.S. aid to Ukraine is effectively on the ballot."