North Korean Soldiers Support Russia in Ukraine War

In a surprising move, South Korea's National Intelligence Service disclosed that North Korea has shipped approximately 1,500 Special Forces troops to Russia's Far East, where they are reportedly undergoing training. These troops were transported on Russian ships earlier this month. This information aligns with previous warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who hinted at North Korea’s involvement during meetings with European leaders. Reports suggest that North Korea's participation in the war has been escalating, with allegations of North Korean engineers being killed in combat and claims that half of Russia's artillery shells are derived from North Korean supplies. Recent intelligence indicates that since August 2023, roughly 13,000 containers of munitions, including artillery shells and missiles, have been shipped from Pyongyang to support Russian military efforts. President Zelensky stated that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers are being prepared for deployment on the battlefield, with some personnel potentially already in occupied territories of Ukraine. While NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg noted that NATO could not confirm North Korean troop participation, concerns about their increasing role in the conflict persist among western nations. Both North Korea and Russia have denied any military assistance between the two countries.