North Korea Deploys Troops to Support Russia in Ukraine: South Korea Warns of Serious Threat

North Korea has reportedly begun sending troops to support Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, a claim made by South Korea’s intelligence agency. This announcement has raised alarms in Seoul, which describes the situation as a “grave security threat.”

The assertion follows comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who suggested that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers could be deployed to the front lines based on intelligence assessments. In response, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol convened a security meeting, emphasizing the need for a united response from the international community using “all available means.”

According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), approximately 1,500 North Korean troops have already arrived in Russia. However, some anonymous sources suggest that the total number could rise to as many as 12,000. This development coincides with increasing evidence that North Korea has been supplying Russia with ammunition, including a missile recovered in Ukraine’s Poltava region.

The ties between Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened recently. Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed solidarity with Russian President Vladimir Putin on his birthday, referring to him as his “closest comrade.”

During the security meeting, officials from South Korea’s National Security Office, Ministry of National Defence, and National Intelligence Service discussed the implications of these developments. “Participants agreed not to ignore the situation and to respond collectively with the international community,” Yoon’s office stated.

The NIS’s claims come on the heels of reports from Ukrainian military intelligence that Russia is forming a dedicated unit of North Korean soldiers. Ukrainian spy chief Kyrylo Budanov revealed that nearly 11,000 North Korean infantry troops are currently training in eastern Russia, with plans to be operational by November 1. They will be equipped with Russian military gear and ammunition, and an initial group of 2,600 troops is set to be deployed to Russia’s western Kursk region.

Earlier this week, President Putin introduced legislation to ratify a military pact with North Korea, which includes mutual support in case of “aggression” against either nation. According to the NIS, North Korean soldiers are undergoing training at Russian military bases in locations such as Vladivostok, Ussuriysk, Khabarovsk, and Vlagoveshensk. This aligns with reports from military sources in Russia’s Far East, confirming that North Korean troops have been spotted at these bases.

The NIS has also released aerial imagery showing gatherings of North Korean soldiers in Ussuriysk and Khabarovsk, as well as a photo of North Korea’s Chongjin port, which reportedly shows a Russian ship transporting North Korean troops.

Since August, North Korea has reportedly sent around 13,000 shipping containers filled with shells, missiles, and anti-armor rockets to Russia, contributing as many as eight million 122-mm and 152-mm artillery shells.

However, military analysts caution that integrating North Korean troops into Russian military operations may face significant challenges. The language barrier and the lack of recent combat experience among North Korean soldiers could hinder their effectiveness on the front lines.

“They might be assigned to guard certain segments of the Russian-Ukrainian border, freeing up Russian units for combat elsewhere,” suggested Valeriy Ryabykh, editor of the Ukrainian publication Defence Express. “But I would rule out the possibility of these units being deployed directly to the front line anytime soon.”

As the situation unfolds, the implications of North Korea’s military involvement in Ukraine remain uncertain. Both South Korea and Ukraine are closely monitoring these developments, recognizing the potential impact on regional and global security. The convergence of forces between Pyongyang and Moscow could reshape the dynamics of the ongoing conflict, prompting calls for heightened vigilance and coordinated action from the international community.