By outdoor-nature-child.com The Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security recently released video footage online showing North Korean soldiers receiving military uniforms, Russian-made weapons, and fake identification documents from Russian military personnel. These soldiers are reportedly posing as Russian troops from Siberia and are set to join the front lines of the Russia-Ukraine war after completing their training.
The South Korean National Intelligence Service reported on October 18 that about 1,500 members of North Korea’s special forces have arrived in Vladivostok for adaptation training, preparing to assist Russia in its military efforts against Ukraine. This was further corroborated by videos circulating online, supposedly confirming the claims.
In response to these developments, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, currently in Naples, Italy, stated on October 19 that he could not confirm the reports at this time but expressed concern if they were accurate.
Mike Turner, the Republican chair of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, warned that North Korean involvement represents a crossing of red lines for both the United States and NATO. He has urged President Biden to provide the White House with updates on the situation, emphasizing that if North Korea were to send troops to support Russia, it would signify a major escalation in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, necessitating an immediate response from the U.S. and NATO.
According to the intelligence cited by South Korea, North Korea plans to deploy its elite special forces unit, known as the 11th Corps or Storm Corps, consisting of around 12,000 troops to support Russia. Earlier, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Intelligence Directorate, revealed that approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers across four brigades are currently undergoing training in Russia, with plans to integrate into the Russian military starting November 1.
The 1,500 special forces members traveled from areas near Chongjin, Hamhung, and Wonsan in North Korea to Vladivostok aboard various vessels of the Russian Pacific Fleet. They were equipped with Russian military gear and documentation, enabling them to masquerade as Russian soldiers when they reach the front lines.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has also responded cautiously, stating that it is still unclear whether North Korea has indeed sent conventional military forces to engage in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, pending further verification.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security has provided footage purporting to depict North Korean soldiers receiving supplies from Russian troops at a training center in Russia’s Far East, with audio of individuals speaking in a North Korean accent. Another video, identified by CNN, shows the troops arriving at the Sergeevka Training Ground near the Russian-Chinese border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously accused North Korea of sending troops and weapons to Russia, allegations that the Russian government denies, claiming they are false reports. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized that the soldiers being sent are regular North Korean Army personnel, denouncing Russia for pulling North Korea into the ongoing conflict and effectively making it a party to the war.
The North Korean military boasts a strength of around 1.2 million personnel, making it one of the largest militaries in the world. If confirmed, North Korea’s involvement in the Russian campaign against Ukraine would mark a significant engagement in international conflict for the regime in Pyongyang.
As of now, both Moscow and Pyongyang have yet to comment on these developments.