North Korean soldiers have been seen receiving uniforms and equipment at a training ground in Russia’s far east, lending credence to reports from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) that 1,500 North Korean soldiers have been sent for military training to be deployed in Ukraine.
These troops are believed to be undergoing training before being sent to the front lines in Ukraine, signaling the growing ties between Moscow and Pyongyang.
A video shared with CNN by the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security shows a long line of soldiers queuing for their uniforms, with indications that they are speaking Korean, although the audio quality makes their conversations difficult to decipher.
Upon arrival in Russia, the North Korean recruits were asked to complete a questionnaire for sizing information on hats, uniforms, and shoes.
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A copy of the questionnaire provided to CNN features headings in Russian, while size options are in Korean.
Another video, geolocated by CNN, shows troops arriving at the Sergeevka Training Ground near the Russian border with China. In the background, a Russian speaker can be heard saying, “We can’t film them,” followed by, “There are more…there are millions of them here. Here are the new reinforcements. This is just the beginning. There are more.”
This evidence appears to confirm Kyiv’s longstanding fears that North Korea is preparing for a more direct involvement in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly warned about the deepening alliance between Russia and North Korea, stating at a NATO summit this week that “thousands” of North Korean troops are en route to Russia.
“From intelligence I have… they are preparing 10,000 soldiers, different soldiers, land forces, technical personnel,” Zelensky told reporters, describing it as an urgent development he has discussed with the United States.
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South Korean media previously reported that North Korea plans to send a total of 12,000 troops, although this figure was not mentioned in the NIS statement.
This could represent North Korea’s first significant intervention in an international conflict. With one of the world’s largest militaries, comprising 1.2 million soldiers, many North Korean troops lack combat experience.
Multiple governments have accused Pyongyang of supplying arms to Moscow for its ongoing war in Ukraine, allegations both nations have denied despite substantial evidence of such transfers.
The two countries, both marginalized by the West, have strengthened their ties since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
During Putin’s visit to North Korea in June, they pledged to provide immediate military assistance to each other in the event of an attack, as part of a landmark defense agreement.
Putin stated during that trip that the relationship between the two countries is being elevated to a “new level.”
Ahead of discussions, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his “full support and solidarity with the struggles of the Russian government, military, and the people,” specifically referencing Moscow’s actions in Ukraine to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Source: CNN