In Washington, discussions are intensifying among U.S. and South Korean leaders regarding the potential deployment of up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers to Russia. This development is raising significant alarms, as many fear it will exacerbate instability in the Asia-Pacific region and potentially extend Moscow’s military engagement in Ukraine.
Reports indicate that some North Korean troops have been repositioning closer to Ukraine from their training grounds in eastern Russia. Analysts are keenly focused on the implications of the deployment, particularly concerning what advanced military technology North Korea may receive from Russia as a trade-off and whether this might set a precedent for other countries to mobilize forces in the ongoing conflict.
The discourse will continue at the State Department, where Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are scheduled to meet with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. The talks come at a critical time, as North Korea conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile test in almost a year, indicating potential improvements in its long-range nuclear delivery capabilities aimed at the U.S. Some experts speculate that North Korea may have received technological support from Russia in light of this launch.
During a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Austin highlighted that the North Koreans, equipped with Russian gear and uniforms, are moving toward Ukraine, which he described as a troubling and destabilizing development. He noted that this deployment could potentially inspire other nations to become involved in the conflict, although he refrained from going into specifics about the potential responses.
U.S. and South Korean reports suggest that some North Korean troops are heading to Russia’s Kursk area, located near the Ukrainian border, where Russian forces are encountering challenges against Ukrainian advances. Austin mentioned that it is highly probable that these troops would be utilized in combat situations.
The prospect of North Korea strengthening its alliance with Russia has heightened global concerns, as leaders ponder the implications for the ongoing war and what military assistance Russia might offer in return. Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations, Sergiy Kyslytsya, indicated during a U.N. Security Council emergency session on Wednesday that up to 4,500 North Korean personnel could be positioned at the border this week, with anticipations of them engaging directly in combat by November.
While Kim Jong-un does not believe that this North Korean deployment will instigate conflict on the Korean Peninsula, he acknowledges that it may heighten security risks in the region. He noted the strong likelihood that North Korea would request advanced military technologies from Russia in exchange for troop support, specifically mentioning tactical nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities.
In light of Ukraine’s ongoing offensive, Russia has been compelled to allocate some of its resources to the Kursk border area. Austin remarked that this shift is a result of significant losses incurred by Russian troops, and highlighted that Moscow faces the dilemma of either enlisting more of its own soldiers or seeking assistance from external allies.
Current U.S. estimates place the number of North Korean troops in Russia at about 10,000, while South Korean officials believe this figure has risen to approximately 11,000. Ukrainian sources suggest that the total could be as high as 12,000 troops.
A Ukrainian official revealed that North Korean forces are positioned roughly 50 kilometers (30 miles) from Ukraine’s border with Russia, although further specifics were not disclosed. Moreover, North Korea has been supplying munitions to Russia, leading to the release of images by the White House showcasing North Korea sending approximately 1,000 containers of military supplies to Russia via rail earlier this month.