In a startling development, South Korean lawmakers revealed that North Korea has sent 3,000 troops to Russia to bolster its war efforts in Ukraine. The figure, reported by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, is double previous estimates and comes as Pyongyang pledges to send a total of 10,000 troops by December.
This revelation has ignited global concerns, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accusing North Korea of preparing a significant military contribution to Russia’s ongoing invasion. Despite denials from Moscow and Pyongyang regarding arms transfers, the two nations have solidified their military ties, even signing a mutual defense treaty in June.
While the troop deployment signals an unprecedented escalation in North Korea’s involvement, the move has been met with alarm in Washington. A senior U.S. diplomat warned that North Korean participation in the war would be a “dangerous and highly concerning development.”
Reports from Seoul also suggest that North Korean authorities are clamping down on information about the troop dispatch, relocating soldiers’ families to prevent rumors from spreading. Meanwhile, Russian military instructors are reportedly training North Korean forces in modern warfare, such as drone attacks, though concerns have been raised about their readiness for combat on Ukraine’s frontlines.
South Korea’s government has demanded an immediate withdrawal of the North Korean troops from Russia, threatening to supply lethal aid to Ukraine if these military ties deepen further.
As the situation unfolds, North Korea’s direct involvement in the war is likely to have far-reaching consequences, pushing the conflict into a more dangerous and unpredictable phase.
