North Korea Troop Deployment Secures Stronger Military Ties with Russia

Photo : AP

Seoul – North Korea's recent decision to send thousands of troops to the front lines in Ukraine marks a significant escalation in its military alliance with Russia, analysts say. This move draws Russia further into security issues surrounding the Korean Peninsula, especially in light of ongoing tensions with South Korea and the United States.

According to South Korea's intelligence agency, approximately 1,500 North Korean special forces soldiers are already in Russia, acclimating for deployment to the battlefield. Reports indicate that these troops are likely to head to the front lines soon, with additional soldiers poised to join them imminently. This deployment signifies Pyongyang's first overseas military venture of this nature.

Experts assert that this development reinforces the military agreement reached between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin during their meeting in June. This agreement included a mutual defense clause, indicating that both nations are committed to supporting each other in times of crisis.

"This establishes a framework where Russia's intervention or military support will automatically occur if North Korea is attacked or faces a crisis," explained Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification. He emphasized that the involvement of North Korean troops in Ukraine is a testament to the strength of the Putin-Kim partnership.

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The influx of North Korean soldiers into Ukraine could provide Moscow with crucial manpower, aiding in the retention of occupied territories and potentially facilitating further territorial advances. This collaboration is significant given that North and South Korea remain in a technical state of war, with the 1950-1953 Korean conflict concluding with an armistice rather than a peace treaty. While Kim has been advancing North Korea's nuclear capabilities, South Korea relies on the protection of the U.S. nuclear umbrella, routinely conducting large-scale military exercises that provoke ire in Pyongyang.

By deploying troops to Russia, Kim Jong Un may be striving to forge a more cohesive North Korean-Russian military deterrent, similar to the U.S.-South Korea alliance. Such a shift could dramatically alter the security landscape on the Korean Peninsula.

Evidence of North Korean Troops in Russia

On Friday, Ukraine’s state-run Centre for Strategic Communication released footage purportedly showing North Korean soldiers preparing to join the Russian military effort. In the video, one soldier appeared to instruct his colleagues to "move over" in a distinct North Korean accent.

Seoul’s intelligence agency declined to comment on materials released by foreign governments, labeling it "inappropriate" to engage with such sources. However, analysts believe this deployment serves multiple strategic purposes. For North Korea's elite military personnel, this is an opportunity to gain first-hand experience of modern warfare, while also assessing the performance of their home-grown military technology in actual combat conditions.

Additionally, this military involvement could bolster Kim's international standing, especially in light of the upcoming U.S. elections. As Lee Sang-min, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, noted, "One way to attract global attention by doing something reprehensible is by sending troops to support the war in Ukraine, which could prolong the conflict or shift it in Russia's favor."

Implications for Russia and the Korean Peninsula

The North Korean deployment is particularly beneficial for Russia, which is grappling with a shortage of both military and labor personnel. Vladimir Tikhonov, a professor of Korea studies at the University of Oslo, pointed out that North Korea holds untapped potential to help alleviate these shortages.

Relations between North and South Korea are currently strained, with Kim recently emphasizing the abandonment of the "unreasonable idea of reunification." This suggests a shift in North Korea's foreign policy strategy. By sending troops to Ukraine, Pyongyang is positioning itself within Russia’s war economy, potentially acting as a supplier of weapons and military support while bypassing its traditional ally, China.

Tikhonov concluded that this development is likely to sustain heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, indicating that North Korea will be less inclined to improve relations with South Korea, Japan, or the U.S. The ongoing deployment of troops signals a new chapter in the North Korean-Russian military alliance, one that could have lasting ramifications for regional security and geopolitical dynamics.