By South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has made a startling claim that North Korea has sent troops to support Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine, potentially introducing a third country into the conflict and intensifying global tensions. This development, reported on Friday, marks a significant escalation in North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine war and could have far-reaching implications for international relations.
According to the NIS, approximately 1,500 North Korean special operation forces were transferred by Russian navy ships to the port city of Vladivostok between October 8 and 13. The intelligence agency expects more North Korean troops to be sent to Russia in the near future. These soldiers have reportedly been equipped with Russian military uniforms, weapons, and forged identification documents, and are currently stationed at various Russian military bases including Vladivostok, Ussuriysk, Khabarovsk, and Blagoveshchensk.
The NIS has provided satellite imagery and other photographic evidence purportedly showing Russian naval movements near North Korean ports and large gatherings of suspected North Korean personnel in Russian cities. South Korean media, citing the NIS, have reported that North Korea plans to dispatch a total of 12,000 troops organized into four brigades to Russia, though this information has not been officially confirmed by the intelligence agency.
If verified, this would mark North Korea’s first major participation in a foreign war. Despite having one of the world’s largest militaries with 1.2 million troops, North Korea lacks actual combat experience. Experts are divided on the potential impact of this troop deployment, with many questioning the effectiveness of North Korean forces given their outdated equipment and lack of battle experience.
The deployment comes in the wake of a significant defense agreement signed between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang in June. This pact stipulates mutual military assistance in case of attack on either country, representing the most substantial defense deal between the two nations since the Cold War’s end.
In response to these reports, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency meeting to discuss the security implications of North Korea’s troop deployment. The presidential office stated that participants agreed this move poses a grave threat to both South Korea and the international community.
Russia has denied using North Korean troops in the Ukraine conflict, with Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissing the claims as “fake news” during a recent press conference. However, Ukrainian media have reported North Korean casualties in the Donetsk region, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that his government has intelligence suggesting 10,000 North Korean troops are being prepared to join Russian forces.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that while NATO has no evidence of North Korean soldiers directly involved in combat, they are aware of North Korea supporting Russia through weapons supplies, technological assistance, and innovation.
The U.S., South Korea, and their allies have previously accused North Korea of supplying Russia with artillery shells, missiles, and other military equipment to support its war efforts in Ukraine. In return, experts believe North Korea may have received food aid, economic assistance, and technological support for its nuclear program.
apnews.com
