North Korea Reinforces Troop Deployment to Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict
North Korea has reportedly sent additional troops to Russia to support its invasion of Ukraine, with between 1,000 and 3,000 deployed in February. Despite these moves, North Korea has declined to accept the remains of its troops killed in action. Analysts estimate tens of thousands of North Korean troops have participated in the conflict, with significant casualties reported. The U.S. and other nations are divided over the war’s accountability in recent U.N. votes.
Recent reports indicate that North Korea has increased troop deployments to Russia to support Moscow’s ongoing operations in Ukraine. According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, assessments are currently underway to determine the exact number of North Korean forces sent to the Kursk region in early February, following a month-long deployment lull. It has been reported that between 1,000 and 3,000 troops were transported via Russian cargo ships and military aircraft during January and February.
The JoongAng Ilbo, a Seoul-based publication, cites unnamed sources noting that Russian military officials have repeatedly requested North Korea to accept the remains of its soldiers who died in combat, a request that has to date been declined. The South Korean military is actively monitoring troop movements from North Korea, although officials, such as South Korean army Colonel Lee Sung-jun, have refrained from commenting on specific intel regarding troop deployments.
Estimates suggest that as many as 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops had previously deployed to Russia since October 2022 to assist in the conflict, with around 3,000 reportedly killed or wounded in action, as indicated by South Korean lawmakers citing intelligence briefings. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently noted in a video address that “New assaults” are occurring in the Kursk area, asserting that “a significant number of occupiers have been eliminated — we’re talking hundreds of Russian and North Korean servicemen.”
Additionally, a North Korean soldier captured by Ukrainian forces mentioned in an interview that he and about 100 others had traveled to Russia by ferry. Meanwhile, North Korea’s state-run media, the Korean Central News Agency, has yet to confirm recent troop deployments or acknowledge any military presence in Russia. Notably, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their military cooperation during a June 2022 meeting in Pyongyang.
In related news, the United States joined several other nations, including North Korea and Iran, in voting against a U.N. resolution proposed by Ukraine that held Russia accountable for the conflict. This resolution passed with a majority but generated controversy, leading to a separate U.S.-drafted amendment that was adopted without directly naming Russia as the aggressor in the situation.
In summary, North Korea appears to be reinforcing its military presence in Russia to support the latter’s conflict in Ukraine. The South Korean intelligence services report ongoing troop movement assessments, while North Korean involvement has seen significant losses. The international community remains divided on responses to the ongoing war, reflected in U.N. votes depicting various geopolitical alliances.
Original Source: www.legion.org
