The article discusses suspicions that North Korean soldiers are training in Russia for potential involvement in the Ukraine conflict, as asserted by the USA and South Korea. Ukrainian experts, however, doubt the scale of this operation and suggest alternative objectives. North Korea has reportedly supplied Russia with ammunition and missiles, while Ukraine’s President Selensky warns of increasing threats. The situation, characterized by North Korean military personnel’s involvement and a potential alliance against democratic nations, poses significant regional risks.
Concerns Rise Over North Korean Troops Training in Russia for Potential Operations in Ukraine
Kharkiv, situated just 30 kilometers from the Russian border, is subjected to near-constant bombardment. The ongoing missile strikes reached a peak in early January, prompting public prosecutor Dmytro Chubenko to investigate the wreckage. His findings suggest that a nation allied with Russia, possibly North Korea, may have provided or adapted the missiles for Russian forces using its own technology, resembling the Iskander missile prototype.
Western intelligence reports indicate that North Korea has already supplied Russia with an alarming three million rounds of ammunition, in addition to short-range ballistic missiles like the KN 25 and KN 23. The latter boasts a striking range of nearly 700 kilometers and shares similarities with Russia’s Iskander-M missile.
The Kiev Institute of Forensics is currently analyzing missile fragments and has regularly identified North Korean armaments, as confirmed by a spokesperson during an inquiry by ARD Studio Kiev.
Selensky Warns of Inadequate Pressure on Russian Regime
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky recently highlighted North Korea’s involvement in supporting Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine with military personnel. According to Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyj, there are credible reports of two North Korean military units undergoing training, possibly comprising two brigades of about 6,000 soldiers each. Selenskyj emphasized the necessity for international partners to acknowledge this significant challenge, stating, “If North Korea can intervene in a conflict in Europe, then it is clear that there isn’t adequate pressure on the Russian regime.”
USA Seeks Concrete Evidence
While both Moscow and Pyongyang deny deploying North Korean soldiers to Ukraine, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that they are indeed present in Russia, although their exact activities remain uncertain. South Korean intelligence has released satellite images depicting North Korean military personnel dressed in Russian uniforms at a training site in Primorsky Krai, near Vladivostok. Multiple videos have surfaced on Telegram confirming these observations.
South Korean authorities claim that thousands of North Korean troops are currently receiving training in Russia, a number that might escalate to 12,000 by the year’s end. They are reportedly being instructed in drone operation, and North Korean fighter pilots have also been dispatched, according to a report by Newsweek citing South Korean government sources.
Reports continue to emerge about Russia augmenting its forces with North Korean soldiers.
Experts Suggest Mass Troop Movements Unlikely
Regional expert Jevhen Dobryak noted the possibility that North Korean soldiers might serve as specialists or advisers capable of overseeing missile launches and managing munitions. He pointed to an agreement for enhanced security cooperation recently made between Russia and North Korea, which still awaits ratification by the Duma.
However, Dobryak expressed skepticism regarding the stealthy transfer of thousands of North Korean soldiers to Russia. Western intelligence currently shows no evidence of mass troop movements across the border, as this would likely be observable via satellite, given that a railway is the sole logistical link between the two nations.
Challenges in Coordination and Language
Dobryak further highlighted the lack of independent data regarding the North Korean military, including its weapons arsenal and troop strength, aside from what has been reported by Western and South Korean intelligence. Coordinating military efforts alongside Russian forces poses significant logistical and linguistic challenges for North Korea. With stringent sanctions affecting its regime, North Korea is likely seeking financial and material support from Moscow, including access to advanced military technology and missile expertise.
“North Korea aims to enhance its high-tech weaponry, particularly missiles, looking to utilize improved engines for its intercontinental missiles and gain precision in missile control from Russian space technologies,” explained Dobryak. Russia may also assist North Korea in establishing a submarine fleet, as the North Korean military has remained inactive in combat for nearly five decades.
A Potential North Korean Presence in Conflict Zones
In expressing its intentions, North Korea aims to prepare its military for modern combat scenarios, a move that may also serve to intimidate South Korea, as stated by Serhij Kuzan, head of the non-governmental Centre for Defense and Cooperation, in a recent Ukrainian TV interview. “They are likely to operate in the Kursk and Donbass regions,” Kuzan theorizes, eyeing areas of heightened Russian military activity.
Concerns Over Global Security Alliances
This unfolding situation poses a threat not just to Ukraine but also to broader security across Northeast Asia, according to Dobryak