China unnerved by Russia’s growing ties with North Korea, claims US official

It is said that Kim Jong-un’s troops are inside Russia to fight alongside Vladimir Putin’s soldiers. Photograph: Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

China is increasingly uncomfortable about North Korea’s engagement with Russia and finds the growing cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow unnerving, Kurt Campbell, the US deputy secretary of state has said.

He was leaning into a growing debate among the US’s security partners in Asia on whether China supports the decision of North Korea’s Kim Jong-un to send 10,000 troops to fight for Russia against Ukraine. It is said the North Korean troops are now inside Russia.