The South Korean general staff has also observed preparations which make it believe that North Korea is preparing to send new troops to Russia, as reinforcements or to relieve those already fighting. Intelligence collected by South Korea indicates that the North is “producing and delivering self-destructing drones” to Russia, to which it is also supplying “240 mm rocket launchers and self-propelled cannons of 170 mm,” the JCS further indicates.
“Intense offensive operations”
The South Korean military believes North Korea is seeking to modernize its conventional warfare capabilities with Russian assistance, based on its combat experience against Ukrainian forces. “This could lead to an increase in the North's military threat against us,” said the JCS. Several thousand North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia in recent weeks to support the Russian army, according to Westerners.
For its part, the Kremlin has each time evaded questions on the subject, not wanting to confirm this information. On December 17, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Syrsky, declared that the Russian army was carrying out “intense offensive operations in the Kursk region, actively using units of the North Korean army,” adding that it had already “suffered heavy losses”.
Military ties
Ukraine launched a surprise offensive in the Russian region of Kursk in early August. She still controls a small part of this territory. North Korea has never confirmed or denied the presence of its troops alongside Russia.
