North Korea’s Involvement in War with Ukraine
During a meeting in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that North Korea is not just supplying weapons to Moscow but is also sending troops to Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine. Zelenskyy expressed concern about Pyongyang deploying up to 10,000 soldiers to support Russia in the conflict. South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun had also raised similar fears earlier.
Despite doubts raised by the US Department of Defense, Ukrainian sources reported the arrival of a North Korean contingent in the occupied regions of Ukraine in 2023. The military personnel from North Korea have been overseeing ammunition supplied to Russia, with reports of North Korean casualties in Ukrainian attacks near Donetsk.
Experts believe that the deployment of North Korean troops benefits both countries, with Russia gaining infantry units and North Korea receiving financial and technological incentives. This mutual cooperation marks a new level of military alliance between the two nations, although it is expected to be temporary.
North Korea’s History of Overseas Troop Deployment
In the past, North Korea has sent troops to support various armies overseas, including Angola, Uganda, Chad, and Mozambique. While North Korean soldiers mostly serve as trainers, there have been exceptions such as pilots aiding North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The potential involvement of North Korean troops in the conflict in Ukraine suggests a new chapter in Pyongyang’s military engagements beyond its borders.