As the United States pushes for the end of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv sees a new threat in nearly three years since hostilities began: reports of North Korea’s possible deployment of thousands more troops in support of battlefield Russian forces.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea is accelerating deployments, after being forced to pull back following documented capture of North Korean soldiers by Ukraine. They said, “About four months since the initial deployment, the follow-up measures are accelerated due to significant casualties.”
In fact, fresh North Korean troops continue to rotate into combat to replace those lost, Ukrainian military intelligence said. The Kursk region where Ukraine has launched counteroffensives has seen an estimated 11,000 North Korean soldiers. Initial reports indicated that these troops took roughly 3,000 casualties in their first 40 days, but after a number of weeks in theater they adapted to combat and their losses slowed to around 1,000.
Keir Giles of Chatham House told NPR the continuing Russian requirement for manpower could presage a much larger North Korean deployment. The presence of North Korean soldiers has raised concerns with reports of executions and suicides among troops for trying to avoid capture. President Zelenskyy also said that captured North Koreans were often found with false documentation stating their status as Russian citizens.
But against the gloomy backdrop, a North Korean commitment does provide military training opportunities not experienced since the Korean War. Analysts say that theoretically, North Korea can deploy up to a total of 100,000 personnel, although this is unlikely due to its vulnerability to outside influence.
As the situation develops, global concern is rising over the implications of North Korean military support for Russia in what has taken on the trappings of a labyrinthine conflict with enormous geopolitical consequences.
