North Korea Deploys 12,000 Troops to Support Russia in Ukraine Conflict

SEOUL: South Korea's intelligence agency has disclosed that North Korea is dispatching a substantial number of troops to aid Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. This marks a significant escalation in Pyongyang's involvement in international military affairs. According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported on Friday that North Korea has decided to send four brigades totaling 12,000 soldiers, including special forces units, to participate in the war in Ukraine. The agency indicated that the mobilization of these troops has already commenced, highlighting a new level of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. This development follows statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, who noted that North Korea was preparing to send approximately 10,000 soldiers to aid Russia. Zelenskyy expressed concerns about the implications of such support, pointing out that Russia appears to be supplementing its forces with North Korean soldiers to o ffset significant troop losses amid ongoing resistance to conscription within Russia. The deployment of such a large contingent of North Korean troops to a foreign conflict underscores the deepening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, which have been previously criticized internationally, particularly regarding suspected arms trades. This move by North Korea represents a pivotal moment in the dynamics of the conflict in Ukraine, suggesting a more direct role by additional international actors.