North Korean troops have already entered Ukraine, with their numbers expected to increase as training in eastern Russia concludes, according to two western intelligence officials cited by CNN.
“It seems that a good many of them are already in action,” one official tells CNN, aligning with Ukrainian intelligence assessment that North Korean forces would begin entering combat zones on 3 November.
Ukrainian intelligence reported earlier in October that around 11,000 North Korean troops had undergone training in Russia and could engage in the war against Ukraine. Approximately 3,000 North Korean troops have been already relocated to Kursk Oblast.
South Korean intelligence estimates approximately 13,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia, a figure higher than US and UK assessments.
Washington has approached Beijing regarding the deployment. “We have communicated with the PRC about this matter to make clear that we are concerned about it,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reports.
CNN reports that many are special forces, with Pyongyang believing they possess superior combat capabilities compared to regular Russian forces due to better training and specialization.
The deployment faces potential challenges, as intercepted Russian military communications reveal concerns about command structure and logistics.
The US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan “directed the US government to engage the PRC and to organize an effort to get other countries to reach out to the PRC as well over our concerns about DPRK sending troops into Russia,” a US official tells CNN.
Western officials doubt China’s willingness to intervene, as CNN reports that Beijing continues to be a “critical enabler” of Russia’s war effort through the supply of dual-use goods.
Russia’s deployment of North Korean troops is a powerful signal to Beijing, according to Matt Brazil, a Jamestown Foundation Research Fellow and former US Army officer and diplomat specializing in modern Chinese history.
“Russia is demonstrating its willingness to take extreme measures not only to win in Ukraine but also to set precedents for future military partnerships,” Brazil told Euromaidan Press.
Read also:
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- “We’ll help you with anything.” Russia’s gamble with North Korea sends message to China, warns former US diplomat
- South Korean intelligence confirms North Korean troops moved to Russian front lines
