South Korea’s military has issued a warning that North Korea is preparing to send additional troops and weapons, including suicide drones, to Russia to support its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. According to sources from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), North Korea has already provided Russia with 240mm multiple rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled howitzers. Moreover, the country is reportedly preparing to produce and ship more suicide drones to Russia following a test overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month.
The JCS highlighted that suicide drones have become a focal point of Kim Jong Un’s military strategy, with North Korea’s state media reporting the mass production of these drones amid rising global tensions. The drones have been widely utilized in the Ukraine war, and Kim’s order to enhance their production indicates a strategic move to aid Russia.
Reports from Seoul, Washington, and Kyiv indicate that approximately 12,000 North Korean troops are currently deployed in Russia, with about 1,100 casualties, including both deaths and injuries. South Korea’s spy agency had previously reported 100 deaths and over 1,000 wounded in the Russian region of Kursk.
The increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is a growing concern for South Korea, as it may elevate threats along the Korean Peninsula. While North Korea’s conventional forces are considered inferior to South Korea’s, their involvement in combat operations in Russia is expected to provide valuable combat experience that could bolster their military capabilities.
On the Korean border, North Korea has reportedly sent up to 10,000 soldiers in recent weeks to reinforce its defenses, though this number has reduced to several hundred over the weekend. South Korea’s military has released images showing North Korean troops testing electrified fences with a goat, underscoring the heightened security efforts in the region.
There are also concerns that North Korea may test an intermediate-range hypersonic missile towards the end of the year. Additionally, North Korea has continued its use of “garbage balloons” — balloons carrying trash — launched into South Korea in response to South Korean activists flying balloons with propaganda leaflets.
Looking ahead, experts warn that with Russia’s backing, North Korea is likely to increase its strategic provocations next year, potentially including the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) or even conducting a nuclear test. These actions would be intended to enhance North Korea’s leverage in negotiations with the United States.
Sources By Agencies
