– I don't see any signs that Putin wants a fair peace. He seeks to capitulate Ukraine – claims in an interview with DW Margarete Klein, the head of the investigation group on Russia and Eurasia at the discipline and Politics Foundation (SWP), which besides advises the German government.
The German abroad Minister Johann Wadephul previously expressed a akin opinion in another DW interview. The SWP expert points to continued military support from the government in North Korea.
40 % of ammunition
– For any types of arms, this aid is crucial and partially even more crucial than open support from Iran or hidden support from China for components," says Margarete Klein. By April of that year, North Korea had supplied Russia with 5.8 million artillery missiles.
This data confirms various sources, including the analysis of the NGO Open origin Centre, which investigated deliveries from North Korea based on satellite images.
– These include 40 percent of Russian artillery supplies. They are essential to Russia – the expert emphasizes. Russia complements its rapidly exhausting supplies of artillery missiles with supplies from North Korea to "achieve advancement in battles on land".
North Korean deliveries
North Korea besides provides Russia with ballistic missiles, multi-guided rocket launchers and long-range artillery.
“In general, this is the largest arms supply package Russia has received from another country since 2022,” Klein said in an interview with DW.
Russian president Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a partnership agreement on common military assistance in June 2024. This aid appears to be continuing: just before the Alaska summit with US president Donald Trump Putin spoke by telephone with Kim Jong Un and made certain of his support, according to authoritative statements from North Korea.
No substance the advanced losses
Up to 11,000 North Korean soldiers supported Russia in the reflection of areas in the Kursk Oblast which were occupied by Ukraine as a consequence of an unexpected operation.
From the information provided by the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander of Syria in January of that year, nearly 5,000 of them were killed or injured during the fight to retreat from Kursk.
However, these data cannot be independently verified. Now the North Korean leader praised his troops in Russia, saying that "they have so far fought heroically", as reported by the Korean Central Press Agency (KCNA).
Forces moved to the front in Zaporozh
North Korean soldiers seemingly aid Russia free her soldiers from the Kursk region so that they can fight on the confederate front in Ukraine. At least this is the consequence of the statements of the president of Ukraine during the interview with journalists in Kiev, to which the DW was besides invited.
After Putin's gathering with Trump and the Washington summit Volodymyr Zelenski not only discussed the political situation. Referring to the current movements of Russian troops in Ukraine, he said, "We observe that the Russians are inactive moving any of their troops from the Kursk area towards Zaporoże".
In a fresh video speech, the president of Ukraine stated that the Ukrainian army must respond with stronger counterattacks.
Specialists for Russian Armed Forces
An expert on Russia said in an interview with DW that thanks to the aid of North Korea Russia can save its own armed forces "for offensive actions in Ukraine". North Korean soldiers' actions for Russia are besides utilized by the Kremlin for propaganda purposes: as evidence that Russia has allies.
– Generally, Russian leaders are trying to hide their advanced losses from society," said Margarete Klein.
The large losses of Russia in Ukraine besides have consequences for its arms industry. There are no soldiers called in. The talker DW noted that Russia besides saw the presence of "employees and specialists in the arms manufacture and hybrid operations".
Problems with the "mobilization reserve"
This is consistent with the information obtained during the backroom talks with the Ukrainian National safety Council in June in Kiev. Her spokesperson then told the DW that "the usage by Russia of elite North Korean troops proves not only its increasing dependence on another totalitarian regimes, but besides about serious problems with its own mobilisation reserve".
According to unconfirmed information from Western intelligence services, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un had already talked to Kremlin about sending another contingent of his soldiers. In Margarete Klein's opinion, nothing has changed. Even after the Putin and Trump gathering in Alaska "there are inactive no signals from Moscow that Russian leadership is ready for meaningful negotiations and wants to end this war".
