Seoul: In a bold move escalating international tensions, North Korea has reportedly sent thousands of troops to support Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. South Korean media, citing the country’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), revealed on Friday that Pyongyang has mobilized four brigades of soldiers, amounting to 12,000 troops, including elite special forces.
North Korean Troops on the Move
According to the NIS, North Korea has already deployed an initial group of 1,500 special forces to Vladivostok, Russia. This marks the first wave of troops, with more expected to arrive soon. South Korea’s spy agency, utilizing detailed satellite images, confirmed that North Korean soldiers were transported between October 8 and 13 via a Russian Navy vessel. The deployment, confirmed by both imagery and intelligence sources, signals North Korea’s direct military involvement in the conflict.
A high-level source from the NIS told Yonhap News that North Korean troop movements are actively underway, making this one of the most significant displays of Pyongyang’s military support for Russia since the war began.
President Yoon’s Emergency Response
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency security meeting to assess the situation, which raised alarm in Seoul. The President’s office labeled this development as a “significant security threat,” not just to South Korea but to the global community, given the longstanding alliance between North Korea and Russia. The security assessment was fueled by intelligence reports and footage circulating on social media showing North Korean soldiers training in Russia, although the video could not be independently verified.
The meeting underscored the strengthening military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, moving beyond mere arms transfers to actual deployment of troops in the conflict.
North Korea Training Thousands More Troops
Adding to the urgency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that North Korea is training 10,000 additional soldiers to support Russia. These troops, while still stationed on North Korean soil, have yet to be deployed, Zelensky told NATO defense ministers on Thursday. The Ukrainian president suggested that Russia is leaning on North Korean forces to offset mounting losses, as conscription becomes increasingly unpopular among Russian youths.
Historic Military Alliance Strengthened
Russia and North Korea, longtime allies since the Cold War, have drawn closer since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Speculation about North Korea’s military involvement has been growing, with Seoul and Washington accusing Kim Jong Un’s regime of supplying weapons to Russia.
This latest development comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to Pyongyang in June, during which both countries signed a mutual defense treaty. The treaty, which experts say paves the way for further arms transfers, has sparked global concerns, especially given that it violates multiple United Nations sanctions imposed on both nations.
North Korean Officers Killed in Ukraine
Recent reports also suggest that North Korean military officers have already been involved in combat. On October 3, Ukrainian media reported that six North Korean officers were killed in a missile strike near Donetsk, a Russian-occupied region. South Korea’s Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun confirmed to lawmakers that it was “highly likely” the report was accurate.
North Korea’s Strategic Involvement
Experts believe North Korea’s transition from providing arms to deploying soldiers is a calculated step. Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, explained that for North Korea, it’s not just about aiding an ally but also gaining invaluable combat experience. “For North Korea, learning to handle advanced weaponry and gaining real-world military experience is crucial,” Lim said. The deployment could provide North Korean soldiers with skills that would be of strategic importance to Pyongyang’s future military plans.
As North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine war deepens, global security experts are closely monitoring the situation, as the implications of this alliance could reshape not just the war but international diplomacy at large.
