North Korea to send more troops and weapons to Russia, Ukraine's intel chief says
Illustrative photo: North Korea may send additional troops to Russia (Getty Images)
North Korea plans to deploy additional troops to Russia soon. It is about 6,000 troops and 50 to 100 pieces of equipment, including main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers, as Ukraine's Defense Intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, said in an interview with The Japan Times.
According to him, Pyongyang is planning to send military engineering units of about 6,000 people to Russia in the coming months, allegedly to demine and carry out reconstruction work in the Kursk region.
But Budanov doubts that it will be the only purpose of the mission.
“Some of them may indeed be involved in demining and building fortifications, but will all of them do that?” he noted.
The plans also include the deployment of 50 to 100 units of North Korean equipment, including M2010 (Cheonma-D) main battle tanks and BTR-80 armored personnel carriers.
He added that the DPRK now provides about 40% of the Russian army's needs for 122-mm and 152-mm ammunition, which is produced in North Korea around the clock. Moscow has also received hundreds of artillery systems, MLRS, and missiles from Pyongyang.
Some of these weapons were initially ineffective, but the Russian side has fixed many of the shortcomings. Budanov cited the example of the KN-23 missile with a range of 690 km, the accuracy of which has increased significantly after modernization.
The intel chief emphasized that the DPRK's long-range 170-mm M1989 self-propelled guns and other weapons are already creating serious problems for Ukrainian forces and greatly contributing to the continuation of Russia's war against Ukraine.
DPRK is fighting against Ukraine
Last fall, North Korea deployed units based in the Kursk region to Russia that took part in hostilities against Ukraine. According to intelligence estimates, at least 10,000 North Korean troops were sent to the front.
According to South Korea's intelligence services, the DPRK has already lost at least 4,700 of its soldiers in this war.
Russia was the first to officially confirm the presence of the North Korean military in the war; later, the DPRK itself recognized this.
In addition to manpower, Pyongyang supplies Moscow with a wide range of weapons, from ammunition and artillery systems to ballistic missiles, which Russian troops use to attack Ukrainian cities.
South Korean intelligence also reported that North Korea is preparing a new batch of soldiers to be sent to Russia.
