North Korean Troops Join Russian Efforts in Ukraine
In a significant development, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III confirmed on Wednesday that North Korea has dispatched troops to Russia to participate in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This move marks a notable shift in Moscow’s strategy as it seeks to bolster its military efforts amid ongoing challenges on the battlefield. Mr. Austin characterized the involvement of North Korean forces as a “very serious” escalation that could have far-reaching implications not only in Europe but also in Asia.
During a press briefing at a military base in Italy, Mr. Austin raised pertinent questions regarding the roles these troops might play, stating, “What exactly are they doing?” He emphasized that the full extent of their involvement remains uncertain. However, he refrained from providing specific details regarding the number of troops currently in Russia or those anticipated to arrive in the near future.
This announcement coincides with reports from American intelligence officials who are preparing to unveil substantial evidence, including satellite imagery, indicating the movement of troop ships from North Korea to training facilities in Vladivostok, located on Russia’s eastern coast, as well as to other northern Russian territories. Notably, no North Korean troops have yet been reported to have reached Ukrainian soil, according to these intelligence officials.
For the past two weeks, there have been increasing reports of troop movements, primarily fueled by information from the Ukrainian and South Korean governments. These reports suggest that upwards of 12,000 North Korean soldiers are undergoing training to fight alongside Russian forces. American officials estimate that approximately 2,500 North Korean troops have already been dispatched to Russia; however, they have not provided any predictions regarding the potential number of additional troops that may follow.
Moreover, there are concerns about how effectively these North Korean conscripts will perform, given that they are entering a combat environment in which they have no prior experience, and they will be working alongside soldiers who communicate in a different language.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from the Kremlin regarding these developments. It is worth noting that Russia has previously denied reports concerning the presence of North Korean troops on its territory.
Contributors: Anatoly Kurmanaev provided additional reporting from Berlin.