South Korea's spy agency has reported that North Korea has dispatched 1,500 soldiers to Russia for training, marking the secretive state's initial military involvement in Moscow's war against Ukraine. The soldiers, including special forces fighters personally inspected by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, were transported on seven Russian ships earlier this month. Additionally, large Russian transport aircraft have been observed shuttling between Vladivostok and Pyongyang.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has raised concerns about the growing alliance between Russia and North Korea, suggesting that up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers may be preparing to join the conflict. While South Korean media reports indicate a total of 12,000 troops may be sent, this figure was not confirmed by the National Intelligence Service.
