Seoul, South Korea CNN —
There is growing information that North Korea is preparing to play a more direct role in Russia’s war in Ukraine, a move that could have implications far beyond the front lines of the war escalating in Europe. .
The United States, Ukraine, and South Korea announced that North Korean troops have been sent to Russia for training with the purpose of sending troops to Ukraine.
Russia and North Korea have denied the reports, but South Korea has indicated that the deployment could cause it to reassess its level of military aid to Ukraine.
In recent months, Moscow and North Korea have deepened their anti-American military cooperation, and the growing alliance is worrying officials in Kiev and Washington.
Here’s what we know:
On Wednesday, the White House said at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers will arrive in eastern Russia this month, and while it remains unclear what they will do, the possibility of them joining the fight with Ukraine is “very concerning.” ” announced.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has repeatedly warned that North Korean troops are joining Russia’s war, and said at last week’s NATO summit that “10,000” soldiers and technicians were being prepared.
In a speech Tuesday evening, the president said Ukraine has received information that Russia is “training two military units from North Korea,” possibly including “two brigades of 6,000 people each.” . President Zelenskiy also told reporters that Ukraine had seen North Korean “officers and technical staff in the temporarily occupied territory” and believed Russia was “preparing groups” to enter Ukraine. said.
Ukrainian sources have previously told CNN that a small number of North Koreans are working with the Russian military, primarily to provide technical assistance and exchange information on the use of North Korean munitions.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s intelligence agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), announced on Friday that North Korea had transported 1,500 soldiers, including special forces fighters, to Russia for training.
These reports appear to have been reinforced after North Korean soldiers were filmed receiving uniforms and equipment at a training range in Russia’s Far East. Another video circulating on social media and geolocated by CNN showed troops arriving at the Sergeyevka training ground near the Russia-China border.
In the Maxar image from September 6, parts of the Sergeyevka training facility appear to be covered in grass. By October 7, a second satellite image was released showing the newly dug trench and newly constructed obstacles. Maxar Technologies
Satellite images of the Sergeyevka military base by Maxar Technologies show newly dug trenches and newly constructed obstacles from September to October.
Other satellite images obtained by CNN show dozens of soldiers training on newly built obstacles and armored vehicles at the same Russian military base. Images were taken over multiple days over the past two weeks.
Russia and North Korea, both Western pariahs, have become increasingly friendly since Moscow’s invasion.
In June, the two countries signed a landmark defense pact, pledging to provide immediate military assistance by any means necessary if the other is attacked.
Multiple governments have accused North Korea of supplying weapons to Moscow for its violent war in Ukraine, but both countries deny this charge despite significant evidence of such supplies. I am doing it.
The weapons shipment, which included thousands of tons of ammunition, helped Russia replenish its dwindling stockpiles in a war in which Ukraine’s military had long been outnumbered in weapons and personnel. Meanwhile, cash-strapped North Korea is believed to have received food and other necessities in exchange.
The reclusive nation also seeks to pursue space, missile, and illegal nuclear programs.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed allegations that North Korean personnel were sent to assist Russia as “another hoax.”
Asked directly by reporters on Monday whether Russia was sending North Korean troops to fight in Ukraine, Peskov said North Korea was a “close neighbor” and that the two countries were “developing relations in all areas.” ”
“This cooperation is not directed to third countries,” he said.
North Korea called the claims “baseless and routine rumors” at the United Nations General Assembly on Monday.
However, the Korean government is not taking this lightly.
On Monday, the Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador and called for the “immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops.”
South Korea’s first vice foreign minister, Kim Hong-gyun, warned that the alleged deployment violates United Nations Security Council resolutions. The National Security Office held an emergency meeting to discuss South Korea’s response.
After the meeting, First Deputy National Security Minister Kim Tae-hyo said the government would implement “step-by-step countermeasures” in response to “progress in military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.”
It is unclear what measures will be taken, but South Korean government officials said they are preparing “diplomatic, economic, and military measures.”
The government official added that North Korea is in the “preparation stage for sending troops to Russia,” and South Korea is considering whether to proceed with “participation in combat.”
“We are developing scenarios to understand the potential impact that North Korea and Russia’s actions could have on our country,” the official said.
South Korea, one of the world’s largest arms suppliers, provides humanitarian and financial aid to Ukraine, while also participating in Western sanctions against Moscow. However, due to restrictions on arms exports to countries at war, it has not directly provided lethal weapons to Kiev.
The stakes are high.
North and South Korea are separated by one of the world’s most militarized borders and are technically still at war. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated in recent years with heated rhetoric on both sides of the demilitarized zone.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Wednesday that the United States does not believe North Korean troops have reached Ukraine, but the move raises deep concerns as it has the potential for serious escalation. “It’s not just going to affect Europe. It’s going to affect the Indo-Pacific region as well,” Austin said.
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said sending troops to Ukraine “would be a fair response.” They are a legitimate target.”
Any intervention by North Korea could be a turning point. This is the first time in decades that an isolated and heavily sanctioned regime has played a role in a major international conflict on the other side of the world.
The state has one of the world’s largest armed forces, with 1.2 million soldiers, many of whom have little combat experience.
Analysts say the North Korean regime would gain many benefits from sending troops, including giving troops battlefield experience and technical training. The deal could also help North Korea obtain real-world information about its weapons’ capabilities.
“Special forces will come back with live experience on the battlefield, live infiltration experience against a guarded combatant. That makes them more dangerous,” said former operations officer of the U.S. Pacific Command’s Joint Information Center. Director Karl Schuster said.
“I think Mr. Kim is providing the military to get the resources he needs to maintain his regime. And I think Mr. Lessons have been learned,” he added.
Former South Korean military lieutenant general Jeong In-beom told CNN that Russia would gain “an increase in human resources that are currently lacking,” while North Korea would gain “finance, technology” and experience. Ta.
Analysts say it will not be regular troops but special “elite” forces that will be deployed.
“If they succeed there, they will not only have direct combat experience, but also international recognition. So this could be a really serious problem for the whole world,” Chun said. Ta.
“What would happen if the North Koreans made this a habit? What if they became a base supplying well-trained soldiers? This potential development should be of great concern.”
