North Korea has reportedly sent 1,500 special forces troops to Russia for combat training ahead of an expected deployment to Ukraine, according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS). The NIS observed the movement of North Korean special forces to eastern Russia between October 8 and 13, marking the start of Pyongyang's military involvement in the Ukraine war.
The troops are said to have been sent to military bases in eastern Russia, with satellite images published by the NIS showing hundreds of North Korean soldiers at two of the bases. The soldiers were reportedly outfitted with Russian military uniforms and weapons, as well as fake IDs to disguise themselves as residents of Siberia.
This deployment of North Korean forces to Russia raises questions about the level of cooperation between the two countries and the potential impact on the conflict in Ukraine. The NIS has a mixed record when it comes to assessments of North Korea, and Western officials have not provided separate assessments to confirm the presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine.
If confirmed, the deployment of North Korean forces to Ukraine would mark the country's first major involvement in a conflict since the Korean War in the 1950s. The situation highlights the complex and shifting alliances in the region, with Russia also receiving military assistance from Iran during the conflict.
Overall, the situation underscores the need for continued monitoring and evaluation of the evolving dynamics in the region to better understand the potential implications of these developments. It remains to be seen how North Korean forces would perform in battle and what impact their presence could have on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.