South Korean intelligence has reportedly discovered that North Korea has deployed 12,000 troops, including special operation forces, to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. According to news reports on Friday, the troops have already left North Korea, with the National Intelligence Service cited by Yonhap news agency.
Although the NIS has not confirmed the reports, South Korea’s presidential office revealed that President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency meeting earlier in the day to address the situation. The meeting participants expressed concerns about the security implications of North Korea’s troop deployment to Ukraine but did not provide specific details on the number of soldiers sent or their anticipated roles.
Earlier in the month, Ukrainian media reported that six North Korean individuals were among those killed in a Ukrainian missile strike in the Donetsk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also stated that there is intelligence suggesting that 10,000 North Korean troops are being readied to support Russian forces in Ukraine, potentially escalating the conflict to a “world war.”
While NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte mentioned that there is no concrete evidence of North Korean soldiers engaging in combat, he highlighted concerns about North Korea’s support for Russia in terms of weaponry and technology. The US, South Korea, and their allies have accused North Korea of supplying Russia with arms, despite denials from both Moscow and Pyongyang about any such arrangement.
The alleged exchange may involve food, economic aid, and technology assistance for North Korea, aimed at bolstering its military capabilities. The situation is fraught with geopolitical implications and raises further questions about the extent of North Korea’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.