A deepening political crisis in South Korea has not diminished the military readiness of 28,500 troops stationed in the Asian state, a U.S. official said on Friday, but Washington is closely monitoring the situation.

South Korea's acting President Han Duck-soo has been impeached by the opposition party controlling the National Assembly. This comes weeks after President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposed martial law, leading to his own impeachment.

North Korea is suffering “heavy casualties,” White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.

Russia is deploying “human waves” of North Korean soldiers, the U.S. said, and one soldier captured by Ukraine died of his injuries. Others died by suicide.

Human wave of North Korea troops ‘sent to death’ amid music speaker bomb plot claim - South Korea, Ukraine and the US previously accused Pyongyang of sending thousands of soldiers to help Russia