South Korea's spy agency has reported that North Korea has dispatched 1,500 soldiers to Russia for training, marking the secretive state's initial military involvement in Moscow's war against Ukraine. The soldiers, including special forces fighters personally inspected by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, were transported on seven Russian ships earlier this month. Additionally, large Russian transport aircraft have been observed shuttling between Vladivostok and Pyongyang.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised concerns about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea, suggesting that up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers may be preparing to join the conflict. While South Korean media reports indicate a total of 12,000 troops may be sent, this figure was not confirmed by the National Intelligence Service.
This potential intervention would mark North Korea's significant participation in an international conflict, leveraging its substantial military force of 1.2 million soldiers. The troops sent to Russia are reportedly undergoing adaptation training in the far east, near the border with North Korea, and are expected to be deployed to the front lines upon completion.
The soldiers have been equipped with Russian military uniforms and weapons, as well as forged identification documents resembling those of Siberian residents. This tactic aims to disguise the troops as Russian soldiers and conceal their true involvement in the conflict.
Despite allegations of North Korean arms supplies to Russia, both countries have denied such claims. The warming ties between the two nations have intensified since Russia's invasion, culminating in a defense pact during Putin's visit to North Korea in June. Kim Jong Un expressed full support for Russia's actions in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of protecting sovereignty and territorial stability.
