North Korea is expected to dispatch additional military personnel to Russia to aid in the conflict in Ukraine as early as July, according to a South Korean lawmaker who referenced information from the nation’s intelligence agency.
This development follows remarks made by Sergei Shoigu, head of Russia’s Security Council, during his recent trip to Pyongyang, where he indicated that North Korea would contribute military engineers and construction units for the reconstruction of the Kursk region.
“Lately, North Korea has been actively sending troops and supplying arms to Russia, and their assistance has been crucial in Moscow’s efforts to regain control of Kursk,” stated lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun to the media after a briefing with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) of South Korea.
“After sending 11,000 troops last October, Russia has now announced a second wave of 4,000 soldiers, along with an additional 6,000 construction personnel to support the rebuilding in Kursk,” Lee added.
The NIS suggests that this new troop deployment may happen as soon as July or August, citing past examples, such as Shoigu’s visit occurring about a month before the initial troop dispatch. There are also recent reports indicating that North Korea has started selecting personnel for this mission.
Lee further stated that it’s estimated that North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells, as well as missiles and long-range rocket systems transported via ships and military aircraft since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
Last year, Russia and North Korea formalized a military cooperation agreement that included a mutual defense clause, coinciding with a rare visit by President Vladimir Putin to the nuclear-capable nation.
South Korean intelligence reports indicate that approximately 600 North Korean soldiers have lost their lives and thousands have been injured while fighting on behalf of Russia.
In April, North Korea publicly acknowledged for the first time that it had sent troops to support Russia in the war against Ukraine and confirmed that some of its soldiers had been killed in action.
North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong Un has approved plans for further military collaboration, though specific details were not disclosed.
