Intelligence agencies worldwide are reporting an escalation in military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, with claims that North Korea is now supplying not just weapons but also troops to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine. This development coincides with Russia’s initiation of the ratification process for the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed with North Korea, deepening their bilateral military ties.
Ukraine Alleges North Korean Troop Deployments
Ukrainian media outlets, including the Kyiv Post, have repeatedly claimed that North Korean troops are now actively involved in the conflict. They reported on Wednesday that 10,000 North Korean infantry soldiers are currently training in Russia’s Far East for deployment to Ukraine. There are also allegations that Russia, struggling with manpower shortages, has integrated 3,000 North Korean troops into the 11th Air Assault Brigade, organizing them into a Buryat Special Battalion. Earlier this month, Ukrainian artillery fire allegedly killed six North Korean soldiers on the Donetsk front, further fueling these claims.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed his country’s parliament on Wednesday, asserting that North Korean troops are now participating in the Ukraine war. He emphasized that intelligence reports confirm North Korea is providing both weapons and personnel, effectively making it a direct participant in the conflict alongside Russia.
Verification of Ukraine’s Claims Remains Uncertain
On October 14, the Korean Central News Agency reported that over 1.4 million young people and students across North Korea have been applying to enlist in the People’s Army over the past two days, with numbers increasing daily. / Yonhap News
The factual accuracy of Ukraine’s claims is still in question. The BBC reported on Wednesday that it had confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops through local coverage. Citing military sources from Russia’s Far East, the BBC stated that many North Koreans have arrived in Russia and are stationed at one of the military bases near Ussuriysk, located north of Vladivostok.
However, U.S. and South Korean intelligence agencies remain cautious. In a briefing, John Kirby, the National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, stated that the U.S. could not independently confirm the reports but expressed concern over the possibility. He said that North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia would significantly escalate the defense relationship between both nations.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service also acknowledged the Ukrainian media reports, stating that it collaborates closely with Ukrainian officials to verify the claims.
Russia Denies Allegations Amid Treaty Ratification
Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a draft federal law to the State Duma to ratify the North Korea-Russia treaty. This treaty includes provisions stating that if either party faces a military invasion and enters a state of war, the other party will provide military assistance. Analysts suggest that this could elevate the relationship between the two countries to the level of a practical military alliance.
However, the Kremlin, which has consistently denied allegations of arms provision from North Korea, dismissed claims of North Korean troop deployments to Ukraine as fake news.
During a briefing on Wednesday, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said who is and how involved in the special military operation is none of Zelenskyy’s business, and the Defense Ministry will confirm the participants.
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