IRIA News

South Korean and Ukrainian sources have raised alarm over the involvement of North Korean troops in Russia’s war in Ukraine. According to recent intelligence reports, Pyongyang has begun dispatching soldiers to the frontlines.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has claimed that as many as 1,500 North Korean troops have already arrived in Russia, with more expected to follow. South Korean media reports suggest the number could eventually rise to 12,000. This announcement follows a similar statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who had earlier shared intelligence estimates indicating that 10,000 North Korean soldiers could soon be deployed to fight in Ukraine.

Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, claimed on Thursday that nearly 11,000 North Korean infantry troops are currently training in Russia’s Far East. Budanov said that these forces are expected to be ready for deployment to Ukraine as early as November 1. The first batch of 2,600 North Korean soldiers is set to arrive in the Kursk region of western Russia, where they will reportedly join Russian forces near the Ukrainian border.

The reports prompted an immediate response from South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who convened a high-level security meeting on Friday. Officials from the National Security Office, the Ministry of National Defense, and the National Intelligence Service attended the emergency meeting. According to a statement from President Yoon’s office, the participants agreed that the international community must react decisively, utilizing “all available means” to address the escalating situation.

“The participants decided not to ignore the situation and to jointly respond to it with the international community using all available means,” the statement read, underscoring the gravity of the threat.

Yoon’s call for action underscores how significantly the situation has deteriorated in recent months, as Russia and North Korea deepen their cooperation. This partnership, built on military and economic exchanges, has stirred growing anxiety in South Korea and other nations monitoring the situation.

North Korea’s involvement in Russia-Ukraine war

The involvement of North Korean troops adds a new dimension to the ongoing conflict. Earlier this month, Ukrainian forces recovered a missile in the Poltava region of Ukraine, which they traced back to North Korean origins. This, coupled with the NIS’s findings that North Korea has been delivering large quantities of ammunition to Russia since August, strengthens claims that the two countries are expanding their military alliance.

The NIS also estimates that North Korea has shipped as many as 13,000 containers filled with artillery shells, missiles, and anti-tank weapons to Russia. The sheer volume of the deliveries, estimated to include eight million 122-mm and 152-mm shells, suggests that North Korea is playing a critical role in replenishing Russia’s depleted munitions supplies.

The increasing alliance between Russia and North Korea was further underscored last week when North Korean leader Kim Jong Un personally congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his birthday, calling him his “closest comrade.”

This close relationship between the two nations has raised eyebrows in the international community, especially given the recent ratification of a military pact by Russia’s parliament. The agreement commits both nations to support each other in the event of external aggression, heightening fears of a formalized military axis.

While North Korea’s military contribution to Russia may signal growing international cooperation between the two countries, military experts have raised doubts about how effective North Korean forces will be in combat. One of the main challenges is the language barrier, which could complicate coordination between Russian and North Korean troops. Moreover, the North Korean military has not participated in any large-scale combat operations in recent decades, casting further doubt on their readiness.

“They could guard some sections of the Russian-Ukrainian border, which would free Russian units for fighting elsewhere,” Valeriy Ryabykh, editor of Ukrainian defense publication Defense Express, said. “I would rule out the possibility that these units will immediately appear on the front line.”

The introduction of North Korean troops could relieve some pressure on Russian forces by allowing them to be redeployed to more critical areas, but experts suggest that North Korean soldiers are unlikely to be placed in frontline combat positions initially.

Future implications

The deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine has broad implications for the conflict and global security. South Korea’s call for a robust international response indicates that this development could further strain diplomatic relations in East Asia, especially if North Korea’s involvement in Ukraine escalates.

As the Russia-North Korea alliance continues to strengthen, there are growing concerns about how this could affect future conflicts and alliances, particularly with regard to the Korean Peninsula. For now, South Korea and its allies are watching closely, wary of the potential security threats that arise from this dangerous new partnership.

The unfolding situation poses a serious test for the global community, which must now grapple with how to counter this emerging military axis between Moscow and Pyongyang.