The South Korean military blasted the news of North Korean troops being deployed to Russia over loudspeaker broadcasts to residents and North Korean soldiers near the border before the North Korean government had officially disclosed the information. They also shared the news that 18 soldiers had deserted their positions.
On Monday, military sources shared that South Korea’s Voice of Freedom radio broadcast, directed at North Korea, announced that Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine, officially confirmed the rumors of North Korean troop deployments, citing reports from Ukrainian media sources.
Earlier this month, the radio broadcast reported that six North Korean soldiers died in an airstrike on the Donetsk frontline and that the Russian military is organizing a special battalion consisting of 3,000 North Korean troops. They also added that 18 soldiers had deserted their positions during this time.
The broadcast also shared findings from the BBC, which reported that a significant number of North Korean soldiers had been stationed at a military base near Ussuriysk, north of Vladivostok.
“Voice of Freedom” stated that South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies had long detected the movement of a large number of personnel and supplies between Russia and North Korea by train, suggesting a strong possibility that a substantial combat force was included among the North Korean troops moving to Russia. They added that both countries’ intelligence agencies are currently verifying this information.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) revealed that from October 8 to 13, Russian Pacific Fleet landing ships and escort vessels transported over 1,500 North Korean special forces from areas like Chongjin, Hamhung, and Musudan to Vladivostok, signaling the start of North Korean military involvement in the conflict.
While North Korean state media has not yet reported any news related to the troop deployment, the South Korean military’s decision to announce this information via loudspeaker broadcasts is likely aimed at undermining morale among North Korean soldiers and civilians, using psychological tactics to unsettle those near the border.
Most Commented