South Korea's spy agency has reported that North Korea has deployed troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. The National Intelligence Service revealed that 1,500 North Korean special operation forces were transferred to Vladivostok, Russia, by Russian navy ships from Oct. 8 to Oct. 13. Additional North Korean troops are expected to join them soon.
The North Korean soldiers have been provided with Russian military uniforms, weapons, and forged identification documents. They are currently stationed at military bases in Vladivostok, Ussuriysk, Khabarovsk, and Blagoveshchensk, undergoing adaptation training before potential deployment to battlefields.
South Korean media reports suggest that North Korea plans to dispatch a total of 12,000 troops organized into four brigades to Russia. This move marks North Korea's first significant involvement in a foreign conflict, despite its large military size and lack of combat experience.
Experts question the effectiveness of North Korean troops due to outdated equipment and limited battle experience. However, it is speculated that North Korea received security assurances from Russia amid tensions over its nuclear program with the U.S. and South Korea.
A defense pact signed between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in June outlined mutual military assistance in case of an attack, marking a significant agreement between the two countries since the Cold War.
South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency meeting to address the security threat posed by North Korea's troop dispatch. While Russia denies using North Korean troops in the conflict, Ukrainian reports claim North Korean casualties in the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of a potential escalation to a world war if North Korean troops join the conflict. NATO expressed concerns over North Korea's support for Russia through weapons and technological supplies.
The U.S., South Korea, and their allies have accused North Korea of providing military equipment to Russia in exchange for food, economic aid, and technology assistance. Both North Korea and Russia have denied any formal arms deal between them.
