Seoul
Russia has reportedly provided North Korea with anti-air missiles and other air defence equipment in return for North Korean military support in the ongoing war in Ukraine, according to South Korea’s National Security Adviser, Shin Won-sik on Friday.
Shin stated that North Korea has deployed more than 10,000 troops to Russia, particularly to the western Kursk region, where they are supporting Russian forces fighting Ukrainian troops. In exchange for this troop deployment, Russia is believed to have bolstered North Korea’s air defences with advanced missile systems.
This development follows Russia’s earlier promise to assist North Korea with military technologies, including satellite-related support, after North Korea’s unsuccessful attempt to launch a military spy satellite in May 2024. Additionally, there are indications that Russia has provided economic aid to Pyongyang.
South Korea’s intelligence services also revealed that the North Korean troops are likely integrated into Russian airborne brigades and marine corps, with some already engaged in combat operations. A recent report from The Wall Street Journal indicated that a senior North Korean general was wounded during a Ukrainian strike in the Kursk region.
This military and technological exchange between Russia and North Korea reflects deepening ties amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and North Korea’s continued isolation on the global stage.
