South Korea Warns of North Korean Troops Deployed to Ukraine
The National Intelligence Service of South Korea has issued a warning about North Korea’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, revealing that North Korean soldiers have been deployed to participate alongside Russia. This alarming development has prompted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to call for a security meeting and urge the international community to respond using all available means.
Reports from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggest that as many as 10,000 North Korean troops could be involved in the war. The spy agency in South Korea disclosed that approximately 1,500 troops have already arrived in Russia, with the potential for the final number to reach 12,000. Evidence of North Korea’s support for Russia includes the recovery of a missile in Ukraine’s Poltava region, indicating the provision of ammunition by Pyongyang.
In recent months, the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang has strengthened, with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin as his “closest comrade” during Putin’s birthday celebration. This close alliance has led to allegations that Russia is forming a unit composed of North Korean soldiers to support its military efforts in Ukraine.
Putin recently presented a military pact with Kim, solidifying their commitment to assist each other in case of aggression. The NIS revealed that North Korean troops are undergoing training in Russian bases in Vladivostok, Ussuriysk, Khabarovsk, and Vlagoveshensk. Since August, North Korea has reportedly sent 13,000 shipping containers filled with ammunition to Russia, including shells, missiles, and anti-armour rockets.
Despite the support provided by North Korea, some military experts believe that integrating North Korean troops into Russian military units may pose challenges due to language barriers and the North Korean army’s lack of recent combat experience.
