North Korea Increases Military Support for Russia Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
North Korea has reportedly sent an additional 3,000 soldiers to Russia earlier this year, as confirmed by South Korea's military on Thursday. This move is a clear indication of Pyongyang's ongoing support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, even as leaders worldwide continue to advocate for a resolution to the three-year-long conflict.
The reinforcements dispatched in January and February add to the approximately 11,000 troops North Korea has already sent to assist Russia, according to statements from South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. Sadly, out of these forces, around 4,000 have reportedly been killed or injured during combat operations.
In addition to troops, North Korea has supplied Russia with substantial military resources, including short-range ballistic missiles, about 220 pieces of 170-millimeter self-propelled howitzers, and 240-millimeter multiple rocket launchers. South Korea's military indicated that North Korea's support is likely to increase in response to developments in the ongoing war.
This news comes as European leaders converge in Paris to discuss continued support for Ukraine and strategies to stabilize the region, amidst shaky attempts by the U.S. to negotiate a ceasefire.
Recent discussions in Saudi Arabia led to an agreement between Russia and Ukraine to halt military actions in the Black Sea and maintain a previously announced ceasefire against energy infrastructure. However, Russia has attached stringent conditions, necessitating the lifting of sanctions on its banking and export sectors before agreeing to any partial truce. This starkly illustrates the broad gap in expectations between the two negotiating nations.
Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin have been strengthening their security collaboration since finalizing a significant defense pact last year, committing to utilize all available resources for immediate military aid in the event of an attack on either nation.
Putin's security advisor, Sergei Shoigu, recently met with Kim in Pyongyang, emphasizing the importance of their cooperative agreements. "He pays the utmost attention to the implementation of agreements reached with you," Shoigu reportedly conveyed to Kim.
The United States has raised alarms about the possibility of Russia sharing advanced space and satellite technology with North Korea, in addition to the military aid they are exchanging in return for North Korea's support in the Ukraine war.
North Korean troops were initially deployed in the Russian region of Kursk to help repel Ukraine's advancements but reportedly retreated from frontline positions in January after suffering catastrophic casualties. According to South Korean lawmaker Yoo Yongwon, who visited Ukraine in February, about 400 North Korean soldiers have been killed, with around 3,600 sustaining injuries as of February 26.
Since the war’s onset, North Korea has purportedly dispatched thousands of shipping containers filled with munitions and munitions-related materials to Russia, as evidence suggests that Russian forces have launched North Korean-made missiles against Ukraine. North Korean medical facilities have also treated hundreds of Russian servicemen injured in the conflict, as stated by Moscow's ambassador to Pyongyang earlier this year.
In return, Russia is supplying North Korea with coal, food, and medicine. The ambassador mentioned that children of Russian troops who lost their lives in Ukraine enjoyed vacations in North Korea last summer, and collaborations on student exchanges between the two countries are also being established.
Recent reports from South Korean officials further affirm the U.S. concerns regarding the deepening ties between Russia and North Korea, particularly regarding technology transfers that could bolster the Kim regime's military capabilities.
This week, Kim supervised tests on new AI-powered attack drones, directing their further development to align with modern warfare trends, according to North Korean state media KCNA. Additionally, a new reconnaissance drone was unveiled, potentially incorporating Russian technology, as indicated by South Korean military sources.
Drones have increasingly become pivotal in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with the number of Russian drone attacks escalating from 379 in May 2024 to nearly 2,500 by November. As discussions about a ceasefire continue, skirmishes between Ukraine and Russia persist. Just last night, Russian forces conducted a significant drone strike on the northeastern city of Kharkiv, injuring at least nine civilians and damaging infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condemnation of the attacks, stating, "No country should have to go through this." Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, in a recent interview, speculated that Russia might desire to conclude the war but could be procrastinating on the process.
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