According to a South Korean lawmaker, North Korea has dispatched around 5,000 construction personnel to Russia since September to assist with “infrastructure rebuilding,” following a briefing from Seoul’s intelligence agency.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has given North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a sense of confidence, as he has gained significant backing from Moscow after sending troops to combat alongside Russian forces.
Lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun informed the media that “approximately 5,000 North Korean construction troops have been gradually moving to Russia since September and are anticipated to be engaged in infrastructure restoration efforts.”
He noted that “there have been ongoing indications of training and the selection of personnel in preparation for further troop deployments.”
According to the intelligence agency, about 10,000 North Korean troops are believed to be stationed near the Russia-Ukraine border, as reported by Lee.
Estimates from South Korea suggest that at least 600 North Korean soldiers have perished in the conflict in Ukraine, with many more injured.
Experts argue that North Korea is gaining monetary assistance, military technology, and food and energy supplies from Russia in exchange for sending its troops.
This arrangement has enabled North Korea to circumvent stringent international sanctions that were imposed due to its nuclear and missile initiatives, which used to be vital leverage for the United States.
Since the collapse of Kim’s summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019 over the terms of denuclearization and the lifting of sanctions, Pyongyang has consistently proclaimed itself as an “irreversible” nuclear power.
Last week, Pyongyang did not respond to Trump’s proposal for a meeting with Kim. Instead, Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui traveled to Moscow, where she and President Vladimir Putin agreed to enhance bilateral relations.
Lee mentioned that Seoul’s intelligence agency believes Kim is receptive to the idea of dialogue with Washington and intends to establish contact when the circumstances permit.
Although the suggested meeting with Trump did not come to fruition, “numerous indications imply” that Pyongyang “has been preparing behind the scenes for potential discussions with the U.S.,” as stated by the lawmaker.
In September, Kim was seen alongside Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at an extravagant military parade in Beijing, highlighting his newly elevated position in the realm of international politics.
An international sanctions monitoring organization, known as the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, reported last month that North Korea plans to send “40,000 laborers to Russia, which include several groups of IT professionals.”
Under UN sanctions, North Korean workers are barred from earning wages overseas.
