North Korea could send 100,000 fighters to help Russia after Putin's missiles crippled Ukraine's energy grid in ruthless attack ahead of cold winter months
North Korea may send as many as 100,000 troops to support Russias invasion of Ukraine if Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un strengthen ties between their nations.
North Korea may send as many as 100,000 troops to support Russias invasion of Ukraine if Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un strengthen ties between their nations.
Bloomberg reported that analysis conducted by G20 nations said that North Korea and Russia have been getting cosy on the world stage, a trend that is unlikely to abate.
Already, North Korean troops have been seen deployed alongside Russias armed forces.
Sources told the business outlet that if the military support was deployed, it would likely happen over a prolonged period, with batches of troops rotating in and out of the Ukrainian frontline.
It comes after Russia targeted the countrys critical infrastructure with a new onslaught of missile attacks that aim to wipe out its energy grid last night.
The countrys energy operator DTEK announced emergency power cuts at around 7am UK time on Sunday morning affecting the Kyiv, Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions following overnight drone strikes.
It said shortly thereafter thermal power plants had been struck by Putins latest fusillade. The level of damage was not immediately clear.
Air defences were deployed overnight to intercept drones in Kyiv as residents were urged to take cover, while missiles bound for the west of the stricken country prompted NATO to send out its warplanes to assist.
Korean Peoples Army (KPA) soldiers march during a mass rally on Kim Il Sung square in Pyongyang on September 9, 2018.
An explosion of a missile is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine November 17, 2024
File image of Vladimir Putin
Due to the massive attack by the Russian Federation using cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles on objects located, among others, in western Ukraine, Polish and allied [NATO] aircraft have begun operating in our airspace, said a statement from the Polish operational command.
On-duty fighter pairs were scrambled, and the ground-based air defence and radar reconnaissance systems reached the highest state of readiness.
The steps taken are aimed at ensuring safety in areas bordering the threatened areas.
Last month, Ukraines ambassador to South Korea said that his nations government were expecting as many as 15,000 North Korean troops to be on the ground in Russias Kursk region at any given time, before being rotated out every few months.
Footage leaked last month appeared to show North Korean troops being kitted out in Russia, in preparation for deployment.
The video showed uniformed special forces soldiers picking up clothes and other apparel to stuff into their backpacks as they are acclimatised in Russia.
The video clearly shows North Korean citizens being given Russian uniforms under the direction of the Russian military, Ihor Solovey, the head of Ukraines Centre for Strategic Communications and Information Security, said.
For Ukraine, this video is important because it is the first video evidence that shows North Korea participating in the war on the side of Russia. Now not only with weapons and shells but also with personnel.
Firefighters work at the site of residential area hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Lviv region, Ukraine November 17, 2024
Missile traces and smoke after explosions of missiles are seen in the sky over the city during a Russian missile strike, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine November 17, 2024
A firefighter tackles a blaze in Mykolaiv following the drone strike, which killed two people overnight
Despite the worrying development, North Korean troops appear to be too busy watching pornography.
A shocking report by Financial Times columnist Gideon Rachman revealed earlier this month that Kim Jong Uns troops were watching adult content in their barracks having never enjoyed such unrestricted access to the web.
However, US Department of Defense spokesperson Major Charlie Dietz said he was unable to verify any North Korean internet habits or virtual extracurriculars in Russia.
He added that the Pentagon is only concerned with the more serious aspects of the North Korean militarys relationship with Russia.
As for internet access, thats a question best directed to Moscow, Dietz said.
Right now, our attention remains on supporting Ukraine and addressing the more significant regional security concerns, he concluded.
In an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS, Ukraines Defence Minister Rustem Umerov reported his troops had engaged a small group of North Korean soldiers just across the Russian border.
His claims were backed up by US officials who confirmed to Reuters that North Korean troops were actively involved in combat in Russias Kursk region on November 4.
Footage purportedly shows North Korean troops in eastern Russia undergoing training ahead of deployment with Vladimir Putins forces in Ukraine
Clips purporting to show Pyongyangs soldiers at training camps in Russia have been widely circulated online
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un pose for a photo during a signing ceremony of the new partnership in Pyongyang
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un smile during their meeting at the Pyongyang Sunan International Airport
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the lack of Western response to North Koreas involvement, remarking that these first battles with North Korea open a new chapter of instability in the world.
The alarm was first raised by Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence services who reported that a contingent of up to 11,000 North Korean soldiers had arrived in Russia and had undergone training.
Images of the troops engaged on the battlefield are yet to emerge, but clips purporting to show Pyongyangs soldiers at training camps in Russia have been widely circulated online.
Russian soldiers taken prisoner in Kursk have also been recorded telling their captors of difficulties they had experienced communicating with the North Koreans, adding that some units had suffered friendly fire.
In one clip, a haggard-looking prisoner of war says his unit was in a forest with ten North Korean soldiers after having been sent to dig out trenches when they were caught in a crossfire.
During the assault, the Koreans started firing at us, he explained.
We tried to explain to them where to aim, but I think they shot two of our own.
I decided it was better to surrender in this situation than to be killed by our own bullet, the soldier said.
