Russia could soon get up to 30,000 more North Korean troops, reports say
If confirmed, this would almost triple the total number of North Korean soldiers directly supporting Russia after an estimated 14,000 were sent last year to repel Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region.
The move would also mark an intensification of the more than 3-year-old conflict that is now stretching across Europe and Asia, highlighting the speed at which Pyongyang's military ties with Moscow have deepened since the two signed a mutual defense treaty just over a year ago.
'There is a great possibility' the additional North Korean troops will be engaged in combat in parts of Russian-occupied Ukraine 'to strengthen the Russian contingent, including during the large-scale offensive operations,' CNN cited an Ukrainian intelligence assessment as saying .
It also noted that the Defense Ministry in Moscow would be capable of providing 'needed equipment, weapons and ammunition' to these soldiers with the aim of 'further integration to Russian combat units.'
CNN also pointed to satellite imagery provided by the Open Source Centre showing what appear to be Ilyushin-76 transport planes taxiing at North Korea's Sunan Airport in Pyongyang on June 4.
This is the same aircraft type that was used in last year's deployment. Other signs of preparations include the arrival of a ship linked to last year's deployments at a Russian port, as well as indications that other Russian military aircraft are being refitted to carry personnel.
The Ukrainian intelligence assessment, also reported by NHK , comes after Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu announced in mid-June that Pyongyang would send 1,000 combat engineers and 5,000 military builders to help rebuild Russia's Kursk region.
His remarks followed talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, with Shoigu saying that the meeting was meant to carry out "special instructions" from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
A few weeks later, in late June, North Korean state-run media broadcast images showing Kim honoring the flag-draped coffins of soldiers killed fighting Ukraine. Pyongyang only confirmed in April that it had deployed troops to Russia while admitting that soldiers had been killed in combat. It also declared that combat operations had concluded. Around 4,000 North Korean soldiers are estimated to have been killed or injured while helping Russia in Kursk.
But Pyongyang's support for Russia so far has not only included troops, but also some tens of thousands of shipping containers suspected of carrying artillery rounds, mobile anti-air missiles and anti-tank missiles, among other weapons.
Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a state reception in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024. |
Sputnik / via REUTERS
Defense experts, however, argue that an even greater concern for countries in both Europe and Asia should be the extent to which the allies are exchanging military technology, and how this cooperation could revitalize and ultimately help modernize Pyongyang's defense-industrial base.
For instance, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov was recently quoted by The Kyiv Independent news website as saying that North Korea is already using the Pantsir-S1 air-defense system provided by Russia to defend its capital, adding that Pyongyang is "currently significantly increasing its military power" through direct cooperation with Moscow.
Russia has reportedly helped improve its KN-23 ballistic missiles, and according to U.S. officials also provided advanced electronic warfare systems to Pyongyang.
'The military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is developing at an astonishing speed," former Ukrainian Ambassador to Tokyo Sergiy Korsunsky told the Japan Times.
This increasingly close security relationship is a matter of 'serious concern' for U.S. Indo-Pacific allies and partners, particularly Japan and South Korea, he said, noting that while North Korea has been building additional weapon production facilities the Russians have been making roads and bridges to facilitate the two-way flow of military systems and supplies.
The former diplomat also said he has 'no doubt' that Russian drone and hypersonic missile technologies have been made available to Pyongyang in exchange for troops, munitions and ballistic missiles.
Korsunsky also expressed concern about the impact the anticipated North Korean troop surge could have should these forces be deployed on the battlefield. 'Such an increase in manpower would be a dangerous development and could pose a clear and present danger to Ukraine,' he said.
'This conflict is already increasing the chances of major conflict in Europe, all the while affecting the balance of power in East Asia,' he added.
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