The North Korean regime is already supporting Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine with weapons – now possibly with soldiers. Pistorius expressed concern.
According to the US government, there are currently “thousands” of North Korean soldiers in Russia. “Thousands of North Korean soldiers are in Russia for training,” a US government official said in Washington on Wednesday. The government currently “doesn’t know what their mission will be or whether they will fight in Ukraine.” South Korean lawmakers had previously said, citing their country’s intelligence service, that North Korea had sent 3,000 soldiers to Russia. In total, about 10,000 soldiers from North Korea were to be sent to Russia, probably by December. The stationing of North Korean troops has also been confirmed by other allies, NATO spokeswoman Farah Dakhlallah said in Brussels on Wednesday
As the official South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, the NIS (National Intelligence Service) made the information during a closed session of the South Korean parliament. The troops would therefore be in military facilities in Russia, where they are presumably being prepared for an operation against Ukraine. The NIS also assumes that North Korea will send a total of 10,000 soldiers to Russia by December.
Germany and Great Britain are very concerned about the reports. Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and his British counterpart John Healey made this clear at a joint press conference in London. There is so far little information, for example about the number of North Korean soldiers and their possible deployment, said Pistorius. Nevertheless, it is a “new quality and a kind of escalation” in Russia’s war against Ukraine, said the SPD politician. North Korea’s support for Russia also has further international implications. He added: “I’m quite concerned about developments.”
“We both absolutely condemn this potential escalation,” Healey said. It is highly likely that North Korea has sent soldiers to Russia. However, it is not clear whether they are already taking part in the fighting. Still, Healey described the development as a shocking escalation on Pyongyang’s part and a sign of Russia’s desperation for seeking support from a country like North Korea.
Soldiers from North Korea possibly with fake Russian passports
On Friday, the South Korean secret service reported the first deployment of around 1,500 North Korean soldiers to Russia (the star reported). These are said to have been transported to Vladivostok in Russian ships. The NIS also claimed that North Korean troops were given Russian uniforms and false identities to conceal their true origins. The South Korean secret service bases its information on satellite images and facial recognition software, which was used in collaboration with the Ukrainian secret service.
Expert: “There is a lot going on” between North Korea and Russia
02:37 min
Pyongyang is already massively supporting the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine with weapons and ammunition. According to a report by the South Korean secret service, the country, which is largely isolated internationally, primarily supplies artillery shells and short-range missiles (You can read more about the arms deliveries here).
In recent months, North Korea has significantly intensified its military cooperation with Russia. It was only in June that Moscow and Pyongyang signed a treaty on comprehensive strategic cooperation, which also includes mutual assistance in the event of an attack by a third country.
Note: This article has been updated
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
