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Secy. Austin: N. Korean Troops Training In Eastern Russia; McDonald's Quarter Pounders Linked to 1 Death, 49 Illnesses Due To E. Coli; White House Holds Press Briefing on North Korean Troops Training In Russia And A Possible Gaza Ceasefire Aired 1:30-2p ET

Aired October 23, 2024 - 13:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[13:33:38]

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: For the first time, senior U.S. officials confirmed that North Korea is sending troops to Russia.

Defense secretary Lloyd Austin tells reporters this morning that it's unclear why they're there, but if they're sent to Ukraine to fight for Russia, Austin says, it would be a serious issue and a sign that Vladimir Putin may be in, quote, "even more trouble than people realize."

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: CNN's Oren Liebermann joins us now live from the Pentagon.

And, Oren, it was actually South Koreas spy agency that alerted the U.S. to this. What has the Pentagon been able to confirm thus far?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: So, you're right to point out that South Korea and also Ukraine have said that North Korea has sent thousands of troops to Russia to fight on behalf of Russia in Ukraine.

Now the U.S. hasn't gone that far. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the U.S. is now able to say that they have seen thousands of North Korean troops go from North Korea to Russia.

The quick question is, of course, what are they there to do? The U.S. has said that Russia is suffering 1,200 casualties in Ukraine each day. That includes both killed and wounded. And that speaks to the need that Russia has for more troops.

Now the question is, are these North Korean troops going to Russia to get training to fight in Ukraine? Well, that would mean that the largest land war in Europe now involves the Far East as well. And that's specifically what the U.S. is looking for.

Here is Austin earlier today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[13:35:00] LLOYD AUSTIN, DEFENSE SECRETARY: If the co-belligerent's intention is to participate in this war on Russia's behalf, that is very, very serious issue. And it will have impacts not only on -- in Europe, it will also impact things in the Indo-Pacific as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LIEBERMANN: Now we understand from a senior administration official that part of the intelligence that the U.S. is ready to put out may include satellite imagery of North Korean troops going from North Korea to Russia as well as the places in Russia where they are being trained.

Now part of the key question behind all of this is, why would North Korea do this? In other words, what is North Korea getting in exchange for sending its own troops to Russia, perhaps, to fight on behalf of Russia? And that's a key question here.

The answer may be that North Korea is looking to develop its own nuclear and satellite capabilities. And those are two areas where Russia could certainly help them. And that would be very dangerous, indeed, if that's what Russia is providing an exchange for North Korean bodies.

KEILAR: All right, Oren Liebermann, live for us from the Pentagon, thank you.

And let's talk about this more with CNN military analysts and retired U.S. Air Force colonel, Cedric Leighton.

Colonel, what does this tell you about Russia's current status in its war on Ukraine?

CEDRIC LEIGHTON, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: So, Brianna, if we think that the North Koreans are actually going to serve on the front lines against Ukraine, then it most clearly means that there are some very significant personnel shortages in -- on the Russian side.

It also means that perhaps the North Koreans are getting some combat training potentially from the operations against Ukraine. And they could then potentially use that in a possible future conflict with South Korea.

So the South Koreans are right to be concerned. The North Koreans are definitely getting into a place where they can possibly help the Russians, not just logistically, but possibly also in combat operations.

KEILAR: I think we're looking for more information here in the coming days to tell us a little bit about what exactly is going on, right? But we're talking here about thousands of troops being sent to Russia. That's according to a senior administration official.

Does that in itself signal anything to you that this is different than just special training? LEIGHTON: Yes, absolutely. Because the volume indicates that there's a degree of intent there. And when you have so many different French troops, if there are literally thousands going over -- the Ukrainians had previously reported somewhere around 6,000 initially going to the front from the North Korean side.

That would indicate that they are fulfilling at least a brigade-sized unit obligation. And that's a pretty substantial number when it comes to ground warfare.

And especially given the numbers that we're dealing with, with Russian troops Ukrainian troops right now, either having a significant impact on what could potentially be going on in this war.

It could potentially mean that the Russians are trying to get out of the war of attrition that they're currently fighting with the Ukrainians. And the extra infusion of North Korean troops could mean this extra personnel body could have an impact on the front lines.

KEILAR: So if this is a mobilization that indicates a stronger alliance than we have seen before between these countries, what impact could that have on Europe? What impact could that have on the Indo- Pacific?

LEIGHTON: So, in Europe, it has probably a multifaceted impact in that, number one, we know that the Russians have a certain weakness in terms of their personnel and in terms some of their military capabilities.

But it also means that, you know, as part of this alliance, that the Russians are willing and able to use foreign forces to do part of their fighting for them.

We could then potentially see Ukrainian forces or other forces like that coming into the Ukrainian battle space.

If that's the case, then that would then beg the question as to whether or not European nations, western European and central European nations would be doing the same thing for Ukraine, not just on an individual basis, but as part of a national effort to support Ukraine.

KEILAR: So what is North Korea get in return for potentially helping Russia when it comes to manpower? That's something that Austin says the U.S. is still trying to figure out. But what are the possibilities?

LEIGHTON: So some of the possibilities are like what Oren mentioned in his reporting and that would include that, at a very strategic level, the North Koreans are going to get more Russian know-how for satellite operations, for nuclear weapons development, and potentially for nuclear weapons employment.

So if that's the case, that could then really up the ante on the Korean Peninsula. And that really goes to your previous question, what happens in the Indo-Pacific? It could change the dynamics on the Korean Peninsula and potentially

signal that the risk of conflict as much higher between North and South Korea than we currently anticipate.

KEILAR: Really interesting. Really alarming stuff.

Colonel, thank you so much.

LEIGHTON: You bet.

[13:40:59]

KEILAR: Coming up, some new details about a deadly E. Coli outbreak that the CDC has tied to McDonald's Quarter Pounders. Stay with us for that.

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KEILAR: Health officials say even more people may have been sickened after eating McDonald's Quarter Pounders as more reports are coming in about an E. coli outbreak that has killed one person, put 10 in the hospital and sickened dozens more.

SANCHEZ: And McDonald's has stopped selling Quarter Pounders in many states. And it's president is telling the United States, but he's very confident it's food is safe.

But news of this food safety crisis is knocking McDonald's stock lower by around 5 percent.

[13:45:00]

CNN medical correspondent, Meg Tirrell, joins us now.

Meg, take us through what we know about this outbreak.

MEG TIRRELL, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this news came out late yesterday. What we know so far, the CDC and FDA are saying there have been 49 cases that have been identified of this E. Coli infection across 10 states.

Ten people have been hospitalized, including a child, and one person, an an elderly person, has died.

Now, this is across 10 states. But the most cases have been identified in Colorado and then in Nebraska.

Investigators are still working to figure out the source of the E. Coli contamination here. They are homing in really on these fresh slivered onions that are used on Quarter Pounders.

They say everybody they interviewed reported having eaten at McDonald's and most particularly remembered eating Quarter Pounder.

Now they say both the fresh slivered onions are something they're looking at as well as they haven't yet ruled out the beef patties.

Now, McDonald's is saying that they have removed those ingredients from stores and infected -- in affected states. And they are trying to reassure folks that it's safe to eat at McDonald's.

Here's what their U.S. president said this morning.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE ERLINGER, PRESIDENT, MCDONALD'S USA: It is important to note that the onset dates for this disease or between, at this point, September 27th and October 11th.

If there has been contaminated product within our supply chain, it's very likely worked itself through that supply chain already. But certainly, we will be working with the CDC and cooperating with them on the investigation.

And we'll take in more data and let -- let the science continue to be our actions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

TIRRELL: Now as the federal investigators do look mor into the source of this, they also are trying to make sure, of course, that that hasn't gone to other restaurants or stores, guys, beyond McDonald's.

KEILAR: And what are the symptoms of E. Coli? If someone has felt sick or feels sick after eating one of these recently, how concerned should they be?

TIRRELL: Yes, so, typically, people who get E. Coli do recover on their own within about a week. If you have symptoms of E. Coli, it would be something like very strong stomach cramps, diarrhea, which can often be bloody, vomiting and fever.

Typically, those come on within about three to four days of having eaten the bacteria. Although you can get symptoms out to nine days from having consumed it.

So the CDC is saying, if folks have these symptoms, particularly in the last few days, you should seek health care, tell your health care provider what you ate, as they are continuing to do this investigation.

And we do expect -- we could start to hear about more cases that they identify as they're going through reports and linking them back to this investigation -- guys?

SANCHEZ: That does not sound like a good time.

Meg Tirrell, thank you so much.

Next, I want to take you straight to the press Briefing Room in the White House. National Security Council Spokesperson John Kirby is briefing reporters. Let's listen. REAR ADM. JOHN KIRBY, SPOKESMAN, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: -- to those assets on the defense of the aggrieved party, all while respecting the rule of law and maintaining solidarity.

These loans will support the people of Ukraine as they defend and rebuild their country. And it's another example of how Mr. Putin's war of aggression has only unified and strengthened the resolve of G-7 countries and our partners to defend shared values.

And yes, that's it. Thank you.

(LAUGHTER)

KIRBY: Sorry.

I had an extra page in there and I wasn't sure where it was going,

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Does the -- is the subject of the presence of North Korean troops can have a meaningful trajectory on -- about the war? And then secondly, you've said earlier even, that it shows a sign of desperation on the Russians.

But does it also demonstrate North Korea's commitment to this burgeoning alliance with Russia? And is that in itself of broadening and discouraging turn for America?

KIRBY: So on your first question, too soon to tell what kind of an impact these troops can have on the battlefield, because we just don't know enough about what the intention is in terms of using them.

So I think -- that's why I said at the top we're going to monitor this and watch it closely.

To your second question, yes, so as we've also said, yes, I've called this a sign of desperation and a sign of weakness.

And it's not like Mr. Putin is being very honest with the Russian people about what he's doing here. I mean, M. Peskov, the spokesman, just the other day to denied knowing anything about it.

But what we've also talked many, many times about the burgeoning and growing defense relationship between North Korea and Russia, and how reckless and dangerous we think that is, not only for the people of Ukraine and, clearly, well watch to see what this development means for them.

But also for the Indo-Pacific region.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Thank you. Would the U.S. diplomats in lesion, Mr. Hochstein in Lebanon and the secretary of state in Saudi Arabia now, before Israel, to be -- do you believe that there's a chance now for the ceasefire, I mean, back on the table?

And do you believe that with the demise of Mr. Sinwar and Hassan Nasrallah, you have better chances or worst chances for somebody to negotiate with? [13:50:16]

KIRBY: The ceasefire you're talking about, I'm assuming, is with Gaza.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: I mean, you have a limit on any of the --

KIRBY: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: (INAUDIBLE)

KIRBY: The short answer to your question, Nadia, is yes.

I mean, we wouldn't -- we wouldn't be engaged in this -- in these diplomatic efforts if we didn't think there was still an opportunity here to get a ceasefire, a ceasefire for Gaza that brings down hostages home and increases humanitarian assistance, and certainly a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

And as for the implication at the deaths of the two leaders, Nasrallah and Sinwar, as President Biden said last week, that does open up -- we believe opens up, should open up an opportunity to try to get there.

But I don't want to sound too sanguine here. I'll let Secretary Blinken speak for his travels. He is still on the road. He talked about it a little bit today that they had good constructive conversations, specifically with respect to -- to Gaza while he was in Israel. But there's still a lot of work before us.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Again, and more quickly, the number of civilians killed in Gaza was 779 in the last 20 days, which range (INAUDIBLE), and the total number is 100,000 between the dead and the wounded, 90 percent of Gaza is destroyed.

Does the U.S. still believe that Israel's strategy in Gaza is working? And you still support it?

KIRBY: We still support Israel's right and responsibility to defend itself against these threats, including the continued threat of Hamas.

And we still urge Israel to be mindful, ever mindful of civilian casualties and the damage to civilian infrastructure. And we're going to continue to work with them to that end.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Has the U.S. made an assessment about the type of weapon training or what type of training North Korean soldiers are undergoing in Russia that can potentially be used in Ukraine? And does this represent a new type of agreement in terms of information sharing agreement between North Koreans and the Russians?

KIRBY: I don't believe we have a very specific assessment at this time of the exact nature of all the training. There's -- there's three sites that we assess right now that this first tranche of about 3,000 our being trained.

I think I could go so far as to say that, at least in general terms, it's basic kind of combat training and familiarization. I think I'll go -- I could go as far as that and no further.

But as I also said, we're going to monitor this and watch this closely. Obviously, if we have more information that we can share with you, we certainly will.

To your second question about information sharing, as I've said before to Mansour Alton (ph), we have been watching this relationship grow and deepen now for many, many months.

And the question that we're asking ourselves, and we don't have an answer for right now, is, what does Kim Jong-un think he's getting out of this?

And so you talked about information sharing, I mean, maybe that's part of this. Maybe it's technology, maybe it's capabilities. We don't have a good sense of that.

But that's what's so concerning to us, is -- and not only the concerns on the impact on the war in Ukraine, but the impact that this could have in the Indo-Pacific with Kim Jong-un benefiting to some degree.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Can you talk just briefly about how significant is this for U.S. allies in the region and a U.S. at all?

KIRBY: It could be significant. Again, we don't know enough right now. So when you say region, I think you mean Indo-Pacific. Until we have a better sense of what the North Koreans at least believe they've gotten out of this as opposed to what they actually get, it's hard to know and to put a metric on exactly what the impact is in the Endo-Pacific.

But it is concerning. It's been concerning. Certainly this development, this willingness of Kim to literally put skin in the game here, soldiers in Russia for the potential deployment -- and we haven't seen him deployed, but the potential deployment -- certainly would connote an expectation that he thinks he's getting something out of this.

UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: And you mentioned that the U.S. is discussing how we would possibly respond. What are the possibilities for having the U.S. -- could respond to this?

KIRBY: Well, for one thing, we're going to continue to surge security assistance, as I just mentioned in my top. And you're going to continue to see the president has made it clear that we're going to continue to provide security assistance all the way up to the end of his administration for sure.

So you're going to see that continue to flow. And we're talking to allies and partners about what the right next steps ought to be. I'm not at liberty to today to go through any specific options.

But -- but we're going to -- we're going to have those conversations and we have.

(CROSSTALK)

[13:55:02]

KEILAR: John Kirby raising serious concerns about what North Korea may be getting out of this arrangement of sending its troops to Russia with the impact that it could have. It could actually bolster Kim Jong-un's strategic position in the Indo-Pacific to have this increased alliance militarily with Russia.

But he did describe North Korea sending troops to Russia for potentially being deployed in the war with Ukraine as a sign of desperation and weakness.

Also highlighting, he said, that Russia isn't even being honest with its own people about what's going on here.

SANCHEZ: Yes. He gave the most detailed that at least I've heard thus far saying that, while the U.S. has not specifically assessed the nature of the training, he said that, generically, it's basic combat training and familiarization in three sides, roughly 3,000 North Korean troops.

The U.S. response he says will be to continue surging security assistance to Ukraine and monitoring the situation and, obviously, updating the public as well.

We're going to take a quick break on CNN NEWS CENTRAL. We'll be right back.

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