What would North Korean surge mean for Ukraine war?
Ukraine is claiming that North Korea is preparing to send tens of thousands more troops to Russia, where they'll gain valuable battlefield experience. President Zelenskyy urged South Korea to work closer with Kyiv.
North Korea is reportedly preparing to send a significant army to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine, with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stating that up to 50,000 North Koreans could be deployed to Russia. This announcement comes after Zelenskyy previously mentioned Russia's intention to bring in 30,000 additional North Korean troops.
The exact number of troops included in the new deployment remains unclear. Ukrainian military intelligence has confirmed the impending North Korean surge, with sources suggesting that 50,000 North Korean soldiers may arrive by the end of November. These troops are expected to be stationed in Russia's Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod regions, potentially freeing up Russian forces for the Ukrainian front.
South Korean experts express concern over the potential scale of the deployment, which far exceeds the initial 20,000 troops and support forces involved in the initial North Korean-Russian military cooperation. Former South Korean intelligence officials warn that the expanded force could entail a substantial number of casualties, including around 2,000 North Korean soldiers among the estimated 6,000 reported dead or wounded.
The deployment of North Korean troops offers North Korea an opportunity to gain valuable combat experience in modern warfare, test weapons in real battle conditions, and increase access to Russian expertise in missile, naval, and air-defense technology.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
