During a press conference held at the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an evasive answer to questions regarding North Korean troops stationed in Russia. This was his first public comment on the subject.
Putin’s response to a journalist from NBC who asked him about satellite imagery that showed North Korean military presence within Russia was cryptic: “Images are a very serious thing.” Images reflect something, he said, referring to the “comprehensive partnership” agreement signed with North Korea in Pyongyang in the summer and recently ratified. This agreement includes provisions for “mutual aid in case of aggression.”
These comments coincide with a report from Ukraine’s military intelligence that the first North Korean units had already arrived in Russia’s Kursk region, on October 23, following training at military installations in eastern Russia. South Korean intelligence reported that North Korea had deployed 3,000 soldiers to Russia. Sources indicate that Pyongyang has taken measures to isolate selected families to prevent information leaks. After a while, the White House confirmed this information through its own intelligence sources.
Ukraine’s Chief of Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov confirmed the presence of approximately 11,000 North Korean infantry in eastern Russia, currently training and expected to be combat ready by 1 November.
Putin’s ambiguous answer and reference to the Strategic Partnership Agreement, rather than a denial outright, comes at a time when multiple intelligence sources confirm North Korea’s growing military involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine. “We’ll watch how this process evolves,” Putin concluded. He left open speculations regarding possible future increases in North Korea’s presence.
The White House confirms that North Korea sent 3,000 troops for military training to Russia
* WSJ – Russia provided satellite data for Houthis to attack commercial vessels
Source: Ukrainian military source: Kyodo – 2,000 North Korean troops move to Russia’s Kursk Oblast near Ukraine
* North Korea isolates the families of soldiers sent abroad, and hides their deployment in North Korea
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