Five months ago, the autocratic leaders of Russia and North Korea formalized their partnership by signing a treaty focused on mutual defense and cooperation. This agreement has further solidified the ties between the two nations, which have historical roots extending back beyond the Cold War era.
Currently, there are increasing concerns that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may provide military assistance to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir V. Putin, by dispatching troops to the conflict in Ukraine. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion launched by Mr. Putin over two and a half years ago, the war has resulted in the deaths and injuries of over 600,000 Russian soldiers, creating an urgent need for reinforcements.
On Friday, South Korea’s intelligence agency reported that Russian naval vessels had begun transporting North Korean troops to the Russian Far East earlier this month. Furthermore, on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that North Korea was in the process of preparing thousands of soldiers to join the Russian military effort.
Despite these alarming reports, both Moscow and Pyongyang have publicly denied the allegations, and currently, there is no substantial evidence to confirm that North Korean troops have engaged in combat on the battlefield as of yet.
North Korea boasts one of the largest military forces in the world, comprising approximately 1.2 million active soldiers. However, it has not participated in any significant military engagement since the Korean War, which took place from 1950 to 1953. For many years, Pyongyang has maintained that its military expansion is aimed at deterrence or potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula. If Kim Jong-un were to send troops to the front lines in Ukraine, it would signify the nation’s first major involvement in an overseas military conflict.
How is North Korea Assisting Russia?
Since their initial meetings last year, Kim and Putin have convened twice, culminating in the signing of their treaty in Pyongyang in June. As the conflict in Ukraine drags on, Mr. Putin has increasingly turned to Mr. Kim for assistance in replenishing his depleting arsenal of weapons.
