According to Western intelligence, a small number of North Korean troops are already in Ukraine, and more are expected to arrive after the training in eastern Russia is completed. Recently, NATO and the Pentagon confirmed that about 10,000 North Korean soldiers are training in eastern Russia, and some of them are already planning to go to the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops have been operating since August. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested that these troops could start participating in hostilities in the near future – CNN
At the same time, the United States has not yet confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine, although it is actively monitoring the situation after initial reports from South Korea. U.S. and South Korean officials are meeting in Washington to discuss the deepening ties between North Korea and Russia and their possible impact on regional and global security. Ukraine’s top official, Andriy Yermak, is also in Washington to discuss the issue of North Korean soldiers with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Traditionally, South Korea has refrained from providing arms to countries at war, but is now reconsidering this position due to the involvement of North Korea. South Korean President Yun Seok-yol has suggested that the policy may change depending on the extent of North Korean military involvement.
Although the North Koreans sent to Russia include special forces, officials question their effectiveness given North Korea’s limited military experience over the past 70 years. In addition, the language barrier could create additional difficulties, and intercepted communications indicate that the Russian military has doubts about the integration of North Korean units.
According to South Korean intelligence, there are about 13,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia, and this number may increase. In addition to personnel, North Korea has provided Russia with a significant amount of ammunition, including about 2 million artillery shells. At the same time, the United States is calling on China to pressure North Korea to withdraw its troops, although Western officials are skeptical, given China’s ongoing support for Russia, which supplies important components such as microelectronics.
The situation underscores the growing concerns about the alliance between Russia and North Korea and its potential consequences for stability in the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions.
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