North Korea, whose military force exceeds 1 million soldiers has reportedly sent 12 000 troops to Russia for training in preparation for combat operations in Ukraine.
The War Zone reported that Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence chief, said that the first North Korean soldiers are expected to arrive on Russia’s Kursk Oblast, Wednesday, 23 October. They will help defend against an Ukrainian incursion.
The alleged deployment is a result of a June agreement made between Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un and other leaders to provide mutual defense assistance. Since then, North Korean missiles fragments were found in Ukraine following Russian attacks. Now Pyongyang provides both weapons and soldiers, violating UN Security Council Resolutions against military co-operation with North Korea.
Kyrylo Budanov stated that “we are waiting for the units to arrive tomorrow in the direction of Kursk.” It is not known how many troops or how they will equipped will arrive. “We will know in a few days,” he said.
Seoul is considering a response. It may send advisors and heavy arms to Ukraine in response to reports that up to 12,000 North Koreans, including elite special operation units, could be deploying to Russia. Unconfirmed reports suggest that North Korean fighters pilots may have also been sent.
South Korea could supply Ukraine with the medium-range Cheongung II surface-to-air system, as well as other defensive weapons such artillery shells and howitzers, tanks and multiple-launch rockets systems. This would be the first time South Korea has provided direct military assistance to Ukraine.
According to a anonymous Ukrainian military intelligence officer quoted by The Washington Post early October, “several thousands” of North Korean infantry soldiers were currently training in Russia. They could be deployed to Ukraine by the end of the year. North Korean officers have already been present in the Russian-occupied Ukraine to study the battlefield.
Recent reports suggest that North Korean military officials could have been killed by a Ukrainian missile attack near Russian-occupied Donetsk City.
Lloyd Austin, the US Defense Secretary, said that he could not confirm that North Korean soldiers are fighting for Moscow.
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