Jamie Spencer
North Korea has taken a bold step in its growing military alliance with Russia by sending 1,500 soldiers to Russia for training, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS). This marks the first confirmed military involvement of North Korea in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. The NIS revealed on Friday that the secretive state transported its special forces units aboard seven Russian ships earlier in October, signaling a significant escalation in the relationship between the two nations.
Troop Movements and Military Cooperation
According to South Korean intelligence, these elite North Korean soldiers were personally inspected by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before their deployment. Russian military aircraft have also been frequently flying between Vladivostok and Pyongyang, further solidifying the military coordination between the two countries.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has long warned of the growing alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang, stating that North Korea is preparing to send 10,000 troops to join the conflict in Ukraine. At a recent NATO summit in Brussels, Zelensky emphasized the urgency of the situation: “We know about 10,000 soldiers of North Korea… preparing to fight against us. This is really an urgent thing,” he told reporters. He has raised the issue with the United States and other Western leaders, urging swift action to address the expanding threat.
North Korea’s Role in Russia’s War Effort
Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andrii Sybiha, condemned North Korea’s involvement, accusing the country of aiding Russia with “weapons and personnel.” He stressed that North Korea’s participation in the war is not limited to mercenaries but involves direct military support. Sybiha further argued that Russia’s inclusion of North Korean troops marks a serious escalation in the war, calling on the Euro-Atlantic community to recognize the severity of the situation and act decisively.
Although South Korean media reported that North Korea plans to send a total of 12,000 troops, this figure was not confirmed in the NIS statement. The North Korean soldiers, once their training is completed, are expected to be deployed to the front lines in Ukraine. The NIS noted that the troops were transported to Russia’s far east, close to the North Korean border, and supplied with Russian-made weapons and military uniforms. In an effort to disguise their involvement, these soldiers were reportedly issued forged identification documents as Siberian residents with similar physical appearances.
A Landmark Defense Pact Between North Korea and Russia
The growing military collaboration between Russia and North Korea comes amid increasing isolation for both countries from the West. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the two nations have been drawing closer. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang, where the two countries signed a landmark defense pact. The agreement includes a commitment to provide immediate military assistance to one another if either nation is attacked, signaling a deeper level of military cooperation.
During the visit, Putin acknowledged that the two countries were elevating their ties to a “new level.” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also expressed his “full support and solidarity” with Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, describing it as a struggle to protect its sovereignty and territorial stability.
Global Reactions and Denials
Despite mounting evidence of military cooperation, both Moscow and Pyongyang have repeatedly denied accusations of North Korea supplying arms or troops to assist Russia in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the recent reports of North Korean personnel being sent to Russia as “another hoax.” However, several governments have accused North Korea of providing weapons to Moscow, charges that both nations have consistently rejected.
The revelation that North Korea has now sent troops to Russia signals a new phase in the military alliance between the two nations. As both countries continue to face diplomatic isolation and economic sanctions from the West, their cooperation may further escalate tensions in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
A Dangerous New Alliance in the Ukraine Conflict
The involvement of North Korean troops in Russia’s war against Ukraine marks a significant turning point in the conflict. With both nations drawing closer through military agreements and direct involvement, the war in Ukraine is evolving into a more complex international struggle. While the full extent of North Korea’s contribution to Russia’s war effort remains unclear, the deployment of soldiers adds a new dimension to the conflict and raises urgent concerns for global security. As the situation unfolds, the international community will be watching closely for further developments in this growing military alliance.
