On October 29th, South Korean lawmakers stated that intelligence obtained by the country’s intelligence agencies suggests that some high-level North Korean military officers and soldiers sent to Russia may be transferred to the front lines. At the same time, Ukraine has expressed its intent to strengthen contacts with South Korea to address the situation of North Korean involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.
The lawmakers who received the intelligence briefing did not provide a specific timetable for the North Korean troops moving to the Russian front lines. However, on Monday, NATO confirmed that Pyongyang had dispatched forces to Russia, indicating that these military units have been deployed to the Russian Kursk region bordering Ukraine.
After listening to the briefing from the South Korean National Intelligence Service, lawmaker Lee Seong-gwon stated that the agency’s assessment suggests that the Russian military is attempting to teach North Korean forces military terms. However, the two sides are facing difficulties in language communication.
Lee Seong-gwon said, “The Russian military is teaching North Korean soldiers around 100 Russian military terms, such as ‘return to your position,’ ‘fire,’ and ‘launch’… but the North Korean military is having trouble understanding them.”
Lawmaker Park Sun-won mentioned that according to the National Intelligence Service’s information, North Korea is also preparing to launch another military reconnaissance satellite with technical support from Moscow.
Earlier this year, North Korea’s attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite failed minutes after liftoff. Subsequently, North Korea pledged to launch more spy satellites.
Park Sun-won also stated that South Korea’s intelligence agencies are closely monitoring North Korea’s activities, including the possibility of Pyongyang conducting its seventh nuclear test after the U.S. presidential election on November 5.
Lawmakers attending the parliamentary intelligence committee hearing also disclosed that North Korea had dispatched around 4,000 workers to Russia this year.
Ukrainian President Zelensky stated on Tuesday that he has reached an agreement with the South Korean President to enhance contacts at all levels between the two countries to formulate strategies and measures to address North Korea’s involvement in the Ukrainian conflict.
Zelensky had a phone call with South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol. In a subsequent statement, he mentioned that both leaders agreed to bolster exchanges of intelligence and professional knowledge.
Zelensky said, “We have agreed to enhance exchanges of intelligence and professional knowledge, strengthen contacts at all levels, especially at the highest level, to develop action strategies and measures in response to this escalation, and to cooperate with our partners. As part of this agreement, Ukraine and South Korea will soon exchange delegations to coordinate actions.”
He also shared information with South Korea about 3,000 North Korean troops deployed to Russian training grounds near the conflict zone, with expectations that this number will increase to around 12,000.
(Reference: Adapted from reports by Reuters)