South Koreas National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed on Friday that North Korea has begun deploying troops to support Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. This revelation follows an emergency security meeting convened by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol amid growing concerns over North Koreas involvement. The NIS says that North Korea has decided to send around 10,000 troops to Russia.

According to the NIS, approximately 1,500 North Korean soldiers were transported in the first phase of deployment. These troops were moved using four amphibious landing ships and three escort vessels owned by Russia. This marks the beginning of North Koreas direct and public involvement in the conflict, with the NIS confirming that the soldiers were transported aboard Russian Navy transport ships.

Strengthening Ties

The deployment comes on the heels of a new partnership treaty signed between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their summit in Pyongyang in June. The treaty includes a pledge of mutual defense, meaning that if either country is attacked, the other will provide military assistance.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has cited intelligence reports indicating that North Korean personnel have already been deployed in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. An additional 10,000 troops are reportedly being prepared to join the fight. This development adds to the mounting evidence that North Korea is supplying Russia with ammunition, as demonstrated by the recovery of a North Korean missile in Ukraines Poltava region.

The involvement of North Korean troops has raised concerns among Western nations and international bodies. The European Union has indicated that it is monitoring the situation closely and is prepared to take action, including imposing additional sanctions. The North Korean troops are reportedly integrated with Russian military units and have been issued Russian military uniforms and weapons. This integration aims to conceal their identity and make them appear as part of the Russian forces.

South Koreas defense ministry earlier reported that it has been closely monitoring for signs of North Koreas involvement earlier suggesting that Russia is forming a special battalion of up to 3,000 North Koreans to address manpower shortages. The NIS has confirmed that Pyongyang began transporting its special forces troops to Russia from October 8 to 13.

Mass Recruitment in North Korea

In a related development, North Koreas state media earlier reported a mass recruitment drive in the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). Over 1.4 million youth league officials, students, and other citizens volunteered to join or rejoin the Korean Peoples Army on October 14 and 15. North Korea boasts a significant military force, with 1.28 million active soldiers, about 600,000 reservists, and 5.7 million Worker-Peasant Red Guard reservists, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

The news accompanies concerns of regional war in East Asia as tension escalates between North and South Korea, with the former also destroying all land links with the latter and effectively tarnishing any hopes of unification between the two. The potential for conflict on the Korean Peninsula, coupled with North Koreas involvement in the Ukraine war, poses a deep-rooted challenge for global diplomacy.