North Korea Allegedly Dispatches 12,000 Troops to Aid Russia in Ukraine Conflict

South Korean intelligence reports indicate that North Korea is sending 12,000 soldiers to assist Russia in its military campaign against Ukraine. This contingent is said to include elite special forces units. An initial group of 1,500 troops has purportedly arrived in Vladivostok, Russia, to undergo training.

Satellite imagery provided by South Korean intelligence reportedly shows North Korean soldiers being transported via a Russian Navy vessel between October 8 and 13. These reinforcements are expected to supplement Russian forces, which have reportedly suffered significant casualties and faced challenges in domestic recruitment efforts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has addressed this development, suggesting that Vladimir Putin’s alleged recruitment of foreign fighters indicates substantial setbacks on the battlefield. This apparent collaboration between North Korea and Russia potentially adds a new international dimension to the ongoing conflict, prompting concerns about possible further escalation of the war.