SEOUL: North Korea has decided to deploy a “large-scale” troop contingent to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine, with 1,500 special forces already in Russia’s Far East undergoing training, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) on Friday.
The NIS revealed that North Korea plans to send thousands of soldiers to aid Russia, providing detailed satellite images purportedly showing the initial deployment. In response, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency security meeting, condemning Pyongyang’s actions as “a significant security threat not only to our country but also to the international community.”
The NIS reported that from October 8 to 13, North Korea transported its special forces to Russia aboard a Russian Navy transport ship, marking the beginning of North Korea’s military involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Multiple Russian landing ships and frigates have already facilitated the transport of these troops, who are currently stationed at military bases in Russia’s Far East.
These special forces soldiers are expected to be deployed to the front lines of the Ukraine conflict once they complete acclimatization training. The NIS indicated that the soldiers have been issued Russian military uniforms and weapons, suggesting an effort to disguise them as Russian troops.
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The agency estimates that North Korea could ultimately send around 12,000 soldiers, with a second transport operation anticipated soon.
Since its founding after World War II, North Korea and Russia have maintained an alliance, which has strengthened following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Seoul and Washington have long asserted that Kim Jong Un has been supplying weapons for use in the conflict.
In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to Pyongyang, during which the two countries signed a mutual defense treaty, raising concerns about further arms transfers that would violate multiple UN sanctions on both nations. The NIS stated that North Korea has provided Russia with over 13,000 containers of artillery shells, missiles, anti-tank rockets, and other lethal weapons since last August.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated on Thursday that intelligence reports suggest North Korea is training 10,000 soldiers to assist Russia in its fight against Kyiv. He proposed that Russia is relying on North Korean troops to compensate for significant losses, as many young Russians are seeking to avoid conscription.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian media reported the deaths of six North Korean military officers in a missile attack on Russian-occupied territory near Donetsk on October 3. South Korea’s defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, stated that it was “highly likely” the report was accurate.
Experts believe that the transition from supplying munitions to sending soldiers is a logical progression for North Korea. Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Seoul’s Institute for Far Eastern Studies, noted, “For North Korea, which has supplied Russia with many shells and missiles, it’s crucial to learn how to handle different weapons and gain real-world combat experience. This might even be a driving factor behind sending North Korean soldiers—to provide them with diverse experiences and wartime training.”
