The presence of North Korean troops alongside Russia illustrates Pyongyang’s new global ambitions

Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, holding up an image of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s meeting with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-un, at the Capitol in Washington, June 20, 2024. ANNA MONEYMAKER / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP unanimous ratification by the Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, Thursday October 24, of the “strategic partnership” between Moscow and Pyongyang, which provides for mutual assistance “in the event of aggression” by one or both another party, “legitimates” the presence in Russia of thousands of North Korean soldiers. Their presence, confirmed by the United States and NATO, is still categorically denied by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, official name of North Korea) and more softly by Russia. Against the backdrop of the unknown outcome of the American presidential election, the presence of elite North Korean units on the Ukrainian front openly internationalizes the conflict. According to Western sources, 3,000 North Korean soldiers are training at different sites in Russia. South Korean intelligence services say more than 10,000 are expected to be deployed in the coming weeks to the Ukrainian front, raising fears of an escalation. Through the presence of its troops 7,000 kilometers from their bases, the DPRK tends to become a full-fledged player on the international scene. This evolution of its positioning will encourage Europe, in particular, to modify its perception of the country, considered as a geographically distant risk which has never been among its priorities. The deployment of North Korean troops on the Ukrainian front could lead South Korea to increase its deliveries of not only defensive, but also offensive weapons to Ukraine. So far, Seoul has officially supplied kyiv with non-lethal military equipment such as mine clearance equipment (its offensive arms deliveries transiting through third countries). Seoul plans to send military intelligence officers to Ukraine to observe the combat tactics of North Korean troops and take part in the interrogation of prisoners. “Baptism of fire” In the case of the DPRK, the deployment of troops on the Ukrainian front to support its Russian ally is the most tangible element of strategic repositioning. Since the Korean War, the North Korean army (1.2 million men) has not participated in any major conflict. Unlike South Korea, which deployed troops (320,000 men) to South Vietnam in support of American forces – including the Tiger Division, of sinister memory, which was responsible for “clearing the ground” following American bombings napalm – the DPRK had only sent airmen to North Vietnam, no ground troops. She did the same in Egypt during the Yom Kippur War (1973). On the other hand, it sends military technicians to the countries to which it sells weapons to explain how they work. For the troops deployed on the Ukrainian front, it will be a “baptism of fire” and an opportunity to experience modern warfare firsthand. You have 65.75% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.



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