The article discusses the growing concern over North Korea’s involvement in Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. According to estimates, Pyongyang has sent Moscow 16,000 shipping containers filled with artillery shells and rockets. Additionally, remnants of exploded North Korean ballistic missiles have been recovered on the battlefield in Ukraine.
The article highlights that more recently, Putin and Kim signed a defense pact, leading to thousands of North Korean troops being sent to Russia’s Kursk region, where they are engaged in battle. This has raised concerns among South Korea and the international community about what else Pyongyang might receive from Moscow.
Specifically, Seoul is worried that Moscow will provide Pyongyang with technology to improve its spy satellites and ballistic missiles. The article quotes Dr. Go, a North Korean expert, as saying “If you’re sending your people to die in a foreign war, a million barrels of oil is just not sufficient reward.”
The article also mentions that Andrei Lankov, an expert on North Korea-Russia relations at Seoul’s Kookmin University, agrees with Dr. Go’s assessment and suggests that Russia’s calculus may have changed.
Overall, the article suggests that Pyongyang’s involvement in Putin’s war has significant implications for regional stability and could potentially lead to further escalation of tensions between major powers.