In a recent update, South Korea’s intelligence agency announced the likely dispatch of extra North Korean soldiers to Russia. This development comes in the wake of substantial losses suffered by North Korean forces involved in the conflict on the Russian-Ukraine fronts. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) is currently investigating the exact number of troops that have been deployed to Russia.
The NIS discovered that North Korean forces were repositioned at strategic points within Russia’s Kursk region during the first week of February. This move happened after a reported brief withdrawal from the area. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted a fresh Ukrainian offensive in Kursk on February 7, confirming that North Korean troops were actively supporting Russian forces there. North Korea has been a key supplier of conventional weapons to Russia. Intelligence from the U.S., South Korea, and Ukraine indicates that in the previous fall, around 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean soldiers had been dispatched to Russia. While disciplined and trained, these soldiers face challenges on the battlefield, such as susceptibility to drone and artillery assaults due to limited combat experience and unfamiliarity with the terrain.
In January, the National Intelligence Service disclosed that approximately 300 North Korean troops had lost their lives, and an additional 2,700 were injured. President Zelenskyy mentioned an estimated 4,000 North Korean casualties, whereas U.S. figures suggest the count is closer to 1,200. On Wednesday, sources from South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, though unspecified, noted that between 1,000 to 3,000 more North Korean troops had been sent to Kursk from January to February.
Concerns have arisen among South Korea, the U.S., and allied nations regarding the potential exchange of cutting-edge weaponry technology from Russia to North Korea. Such technology transfers could significantly bolster North Korea’s nuclear weapons capability. Russia is also anticipated to extend economic and other forms of support to North Korea.
In diplomatic developments, Russia and the U.S. have committed to initiate efforts to conclude the war and enhance their diplomatic and economic relationship during discussions held in Saudi Arabia last week. It’s notable that Ukrainian representatives were absent from these talks. This move represents a major change in U.S. diplomacy under President Donald Trump, contrasting starkly with previous initiatives to isolate Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Analysts speculate that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un might contemplate dispatching additional troops to Russia to secure further Russian assistance, aiming to strengthen their alliance before the conflict concludes.
