A 1000 and a half North Korean soldiers, any sources talk of 3 thousand, are already to be in Russia. About 10 1000 more may shortly join them. Of course, with a view to engaging in the war between Russia and Ukraine. What does the Korean People's Democratic Republic want to achieve, and what does Moscow gain?
These reports come from South Korean intelligence, which makes them very likely. In turn reports of Ukrainian intelligence that North Korean units are already engaged in combat activities, and even the first deserters of them, can be considered as part of the alleged fog of war. After all, the information war is not exclusively a domain of Russia, it is besides led by Kiev and should be remembered.
Of course, the participation of individual specialists/operators from the DPRK cannot be excluded. For if they were to be utilized on the front KN-23 missiles or Pjongjang drones, it may besides have appeared there staff serving them. However, the engagement of these specialists is different, but the introduction of regular subdivisions and branches suggests the figures mentioned at the outset. If that actually happens.
Both Washington and NATO are heavy sparing in reports about this. It was only after almost a week that the U.S. confirmed the presence of Koreans in Russia (the number of 3,000 soldiers appeared in US reports), without prejudging their future role. Medially, there are reports that these soldiers are undergoing training in Vladivostok, Ussuryjsk, Chabarovsk or Blagowieszczensk. It's just that this news is about this 1 and a half 1000 military men who were about to scope Russia. This means that they are not planned to be utilized as part of battalion groups (and even more so tactical relationships) but alternatively at the level of divisions. And it must be acknowledged that, given the fact that they are more special, specified a intent for war would make sense.
North Korean soldiers during the parade. Illustration picture.
However, what would be different would be the possible engagement of the DPRK's troops in the Kursk region, i.e. in Russia, another than Russia. Have specified decisions been made? Not necessarily. Even if 1 and a half 1000 North Korean soldiers actually belong to a component of peculiar troops, this does not mean that they will be sent to Russia. According to its sources, 150 000 soldiers are to be included in this kind of armed force, according to the Military Balance 2024, only 88 000. Assuming that there are about 100,000 of them, it is hard to imagine that 10 percent of the individual condition is going to hit the front. More soldiers who can be sent to Russia will so come from land troops, possibly being mentioned arms operators utilized to fight on the Ukrainian front. In what way could they prove themselves there? First of all, in the function of light infantry and most likely from a Russian point of view, specified usage would make sense (if language problems could be overcome, which does not should be easy). Russia pays off, even if North Korean soldiers were to play only the function of “gun meat”. However, what does Pyongyang gain in this way?
For at least a fewer months, if not a twelve months, the tension between Korean countries has gradually increased. From the south to the north, drones fly with flyers criticizing the regime, in the other direction – garbage balloons, but besides containing tiny explosives. The Republic of Korea was officially designated an enemy by the DPRK, and parts of the roads connecting the 2 states were besides blown up. For Kim's regime, strengthening relations with Russia is, on the 1 hand, balancing Chinese influences (especially as China has frequently toned its activities in the past), on the another hand, Hope for more tangible benefits: fuel, food, possibly besides military technologies. In this second respect Russia remains cautious, after all, South Korea may likewise rematch Ukraine. But there's a 3rd page in this layout. Well, until the North Korean troops appear on the front, it cannot be conclusively predicted that this will actually happen. It should be noted that the same threat is beneficial for both countries, as it gives emergence to concerns both in Seoul and among the countries supporting Kiev (and of course in it itself). It is besides possible that the relocation of Pjongjangu troops to Russia may end in withdrawal after a fewer weeks (especially that the Korean engagement was already revealed at the beginning of this plan). There may besides be an effort to replace units, i.e. to retreat the presently deployed and more secretive introductions of others. Kim Jong Un, contrary to popular opinion, is simply a reasonably cautious player and does not always like to operate full openly.
There is another subject that is worth keeping in mind, i.e. the US presidential campaign. global safety issues are surely affecting her, and it may increase if any of the crises escalate. This means that the arrival of North Korean soldiers in Russia may besides be due to the political calendar, not only to operational needs.
