what we all know concerning the alleged sending of North Korean troopers to assist Russia | EUROtoday

LPyongyang’s assist for Moscow’s battle in Ukraine is rising. According to the South Korean information company Yonhap, citing the nation’s intelligence, vital troops can be despatched from North Korea to assist Russia in its battle towards kyiv. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) says that 1,500 particular forces troops have already been despatched to the Russian Far East, and that Pyongyang plans to deploy 12,000.

Shortly after, the South Korean presidency mentioned that Pyongyang’s rising help to Russia, which matches “beyond the transfer of military equipment and translates into troop deployments”, represents “a significant threat to security not only of our country, but also of the international community.” Here’s what we know about what could be a new turning point in the war.

North Korean troops deployed in Russia

According to Russian intelligence, North Korea wants to supply soldiers to Russia. “The National Intelligence Service (NIS) mentioned it had discovered that the North lately determined to ship 4 brigades of 12,000 troops, together with particular forces, to the battle in Ukraine,” Yonhap news agency reported. this Friday, October 18.

The South Korean intelligence service then provided satellite images, and specified that it had “detected from 8 to 13 [octobre] that North Korea transported its special forces to Russia in a Russian navy transport ship, confirming the start of North Korea’s military participation.

According to this same source, a first contingent of 1,500 soldiers was sent to Vladivostok, in the Russian Far East. The other troops could be deployed to Ussuriysk, Khabarovsk and Blagoveshchensk, before going to the front lines “as soon as they have completed their training”.

NATO does not confirm “at this stage”

NATO cannot confirm “at this stage” the deployment by North Korea of ​​troops in Russia, its Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Friday. “At this point, our official position is that we cannot confirm reports that North Koreans are actively engaged as soldiers in the war effort [russe] “, he declared during a press briefing at the Alliance headquarters.

“But, of course, that can change,” he added, when asked about claims by the South Korean intelligence service. Mark Rutte said he was in “close contact” with NATO’s Asian partners, including South Korea.

An alleged “very worrying” deployment for Paris

The increase in North Korea’s military support for Russia is “very worrying”, Paris said this Friday. “North Korea’s increased cross-cooperation and military support for the Russian war effort in Ukraine is very worrying,” said Christophe Lemoine, the spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry.

Concerning the alleged deployment of soldiers, “if this information were proven, it would be an extremely worrying and extremely serious new fact,” reacted the spokesperson for the Quai d’Orsay. “We can only call on North Korea and Russia to comply with the Security Council resolutions” of the United Nations, he also commented.

For British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, if this information were confirmed, it would demonstrate “the level of desperation” in Moscow. “Russia is weakening,” he said, after a meeting in Berlin with the leaders of France, Germany and the United States, insisting that the allies remained “absolutely resolute” to support kyiv.

China, an ally of Pyongyang and Moscow, has reiterated its hope for a “de-escalation” in Ukraine.

kyiv demands a “strong reaction” from its allies

Faced with these assertions, Ukrainian diplomacy demanded a strong reaction from its allies and an acceleration of Western military support. “North Korea supports Russia’s aggression against Ukraine with weapons and manpower […] We demand an immediate and strong reaction from the Euro-Atlantic community and the world,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriï Sybiga wrote on X, calling in particular on the West to lift restrictions on the use of long weapons. range and “intercept” Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian territory.

Pyongyang and Moscow, long-time allies, have grown even nearer because the begin of the Russian invasion. North Korea is accused by kyiv and the West of delivering massive portions of munitions and missiles to Russia.