North Korea attempts to send workers to Russia - South Korean intelligence
South Korean intelligence has reported North Korea's attempts to send its workers to Russia, violating United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, according to Yonhap.
"As there are movements of North Korea seeking to send its workers to Russia, we are keeping close tabs on the situation," the National Intelligence Service of South Korea said
There are suspicions that North Korea is trying to bolster the illegal dispatch of its workers to Russia for employment due to a shortage of labor resulting from the mobilization of its youth for the war against Ukraine.
According to North Korean state media, a Russian delegation led by Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of Primorsky Krai, arrived on Monday at Pyongyang Airport. He was welcomed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Affairs Ji Kyong Su.
However, the purpose of the visit has not been disclosed.
North Korea-Russia cooperation
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has repeatedly appealed to North Korea to provide munitions. After some time, North Korea sent over 1 million artillery shells to Russia.
According to Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, North Korea cannot consistently supply Russia in the war against Ukraine.
Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, expressed concern about military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
Recently, according to U.S. intelligence, Russian ships have regularly visited the North Korean port of Rason since August. North Korea sent approximately 2000 containers of weapons to Russia.