North Korean involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine
At the same time, North Korea had its arms industry running at full speed, and it was estimated that it was able to produce up to two million artillery shells annually, making a significant contribution to Russia's warfare.
[4] In mid-November 2024, almost 50 North Korean-made M-1989 Koksan self-propelled howitzers and around 20 M-1991 short-range missile systems were delivered to Russia to reinforce the Russian armed forces in the conflict with Ukraine.
According to Wi, Russia's support of North Korea helps ease economic problems such as the financial and food crises, as Moscow pays compensation.
According to South Korean intelligence, the sale of several containers of artillery shells could enable North Korea to purchase hundreds of thousands of tons of rice.
These reports were based on information from the South Korean intelligence agency (NIS), which stated that around 1,500 soldiers had been sent for military training, possibly for deployment in Ukraine.
[14] Ukrainian military intelligence HUR, claimed that the first North Korean soldiers arrived in the Russian Kursk Oblast on October 25, 2024.
The coordination and training, which lasts several weeks, is reportedly led by Russia's deputy defense minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov.
[19] Ants Kiviselg, the commander of the Estonian Defense Ministry's intelligence center, stated that North Korean soldiers are usually trained to fight in mountainous terrain and have no experience of operating in Ukraine.
[20] Kateryna Stepanenko, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), pointed out that the term "elite" may not apply for North Korean troops.
[22] Ukraine informed the UN Security Council that Russia allegedly intended to integrate at least five North Korean brigades, each with 2,000 to 3,000 soldiers, into its armed forces.
According to reports from the US Department of Defense, allegedly about 10,000 North Korean soldiers had arrived in the contested border region of Kursk by the end of October 2024.
[24] According to Choe Son-hui, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ordered unconditional support for Russian forces and civilians in a “holy war” from the very beginning of the conflict.
[25] In view of the deployment of North Korean soldiers to support Russia in the Ukraine conflict, Choe Son-hui then met with Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow on 4 November.
He emphasized preparing for modern warfare amid rising global tensions, with reports suggesting further troop deployments to Russia despite heavy casualties.
[36] Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that North Korea is indeed planning to send soldiers to Ukraine to fight alongside the Russian army.
Zelenskyy further stated that Russian president Vladimir Putin was avoiding large-scale mobilization in Russia because it could jeopardize his domestic political support.
The United States announced that it would take decisive action in response to North Korea's alleged military support for Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
[41] NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned of the geopolitical risks that could arise from increased military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, pointing out that this could further destabilize the dynamics of the war.
[45] During her trip to Kyiv on 4 November 2024, German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock emphasized that North Korea's military assistance to Russia was significantly exacerbating the situation, while President Putin continued to pursue a war of attrition to demoralize the population.
