On Wednesday, the United States for the first time expressed evidence that 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia and are undergoing training at various locations. This indicates that North Korea may potentially deploy troops to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, marking a significant escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war.
Later that day, White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated in a press conference that the United States believes at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers arrived by ship in early to mid-October at Vladivostok, the largest port in Russia’s Far East.
Kirby said, “These soldiers then proceeded to multiple military training grounds in eastern Russia, where they are currently undergoing training. We do not yet know if these soldiers will fight alongside the Russian military, but there is indeed a concerning possibility.”
Kirby warned, “If they are indeed deployed to confront Ukraine, they will become targets of attack.” He stated that the key question is what North Korean leader Kim Jong-un stands to gain from this.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described this as the “next step” for North Korea after providing weapons to Russia, and mentioned that Pyongyang may face consequences for directly aiding Russia.
He added, “If they are co-belligerents, their intent is to represent Russia in this conflict, and that is a very, very serious matter that will not only impact Europe but also the Indo-Pacific region.”
Austin told reporters in Rome that it remains to be seen what the North Korean military is doing in Russia.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated on Tuesday that North Korea sending troops to Ukraine would signify a “serious escalation of the situation.” He also mentioned requesting the South Korean president to send experts to Brussels next week to brief the military alliance.
On Wednesday, South Korean National Intelligence Service chief Cho Tae-yong informed lawmakers that the 3,000 North Korean soldiers dispatched to Russia have been dispersed to multiple military bases. Currently, these soldiers are undergoing training in drones and other equipment before being deployed to the Ukrainian battlefield.
The agency assessed that North Korea aims to deploy a total of 10,000 soldiers to Russia by December.
The South Korean National Intelligence Service chief informed lawmakers that North Korea has not disclosed the information about deploying troops to its people. The agency also found that North Korea is relocating the families of the soldiers sent to Russia to special locations for isolation.
The South Korean National Intelligence Service stated that the Russian military is recruiting a large number of translators, and Russian instructors have highly evaluated the morale and physical condition of the North Korean soldiers. However, they believe that ultimately the soldiers will incur significant casualties due to their lack of understanding of modern warfare.
North Korea possesses a 1.2 million-strong military, one of the largest standing armies in the world, but has not engaged in major conflicts since the Korean War (1950-53).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that intelligence gathered by the country indicated that 10,000 North Korean soldiers were preparing to join Russian forces.
Kyrylo Budanov, director of the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Directorate, told the online military news site “The War Zone” on Tuesday that North Korean troops were set to arrive in Russia’s Kursk region on Wednesday to assist Russian forces against the Ukrainian invasion.
The Russia-Ukraine war erupted in February 2022 and evolved into a protracted conflict with heavy casualties on both sides. Moscow is seeking weapons and troops to make progress in the ongoing stalemate lasting over two years.
Over the past two years, Russia and North Korea have significantly increased their level of cooperation and signed a mutual defense treaty in June of this year, pledging to immediately mobilize all available means to provide military assistance to the attacked party in case of war.
South Korean officials are concerned that in exchange, Russia may provide advanced weapon technology to North Korea, potentially advancing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs targeting South Korea.
On Tuesday, the South Korean National Security Council held an emergency meeting requesting North Korea to withdraw its troops immediately. The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stated in a statement, “The government will gradually take corresponding measures based on the progress of Russia’s military cooperation with North Korea.”
Last week, the South Korean intelligence agency stated that since August 2023, North Korea has delivered over 13,000 shipping containers of artillery, missiles, and other conventional weapons to Russia to replenish its dwindling weapon reserves.
South Korea has provided humanitarian aid and financial support to Ukraine, but thus far has avoided directly supplying weapons to adhere to its national policy of not providing weapons to conflict zones.
Radio France Internationale (RFI) cited a senior South Korean presidential official who reported that Seoul may consider supplying weapons to Ukraine based on the situation’s developments.