DPRK prepares to send second batch of troops to Russia

Photo: North Korean soldiers train at DPRK Army Special Forces base

The second batch of North Korean troops is preparing to be sent to Russia. Bloomberg reported this on Friday, citing documents from South Korean intelligence.

According to the documents, a total of about 10,000 soldiers are planned to be sent to Russia, of which 1,500 have already been sent.

The documents also indicate that since August of last year, North Korea has supplied Russia with about eight million shells, 100 missiles, and anti-tank weapons.

The Times previously reported that North Korea supplies Russia with three million shells annually. Bloomberg was unable to independently verify the findings of South Korean intelligence. Seoul's Foreign Ministry has not yet commented on the information.

South Korea intends to present some of the intelligence data at a meeting with NATO representatives on Monday, October 28, Bloomberg notes.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday, October 23, that some North Korean troops are already at Russian training grounds, with about 3,000 soldiers currently undergoing training. Ukrainian military intelligence reported Thursday, October 24, that the first North Korean units had completed their training and had even arrived in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops have occupied part of the border area.

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According to Bloomberg, Russia plans to supply the North Koreans with weapons and combat uniforms, as well as fake IDs to make them look like residents of Russia's eastern regions.

On Thursday, October 24, Russian President Putin commented for the first time on the information about North Korean military personnel in Russia. He called it “our business” and referred to Article 4 of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty with North Korea. This article implies mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of its participants.

The Financial Times, citing experts, reported that China is expressing dissatisfaction with the military assistance that North Korea provides to Russia. In his latest letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Chinese President Xi Jinping did not call North Korea a “friendly neighboring country”, which is considered a tradition.

In July, a month after the signing of the strategic cooperation treaty between the DPRK and Russia, the Chinese ambassador to Pyongyang did not attend the celebrations marking the end of the Korean War. Experts believe that China is also concerned that Russia may contribute to the improvement of North Korea's nuclear potential.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga