Ukrainian Media Reports Missile Attack in Donetsk Region, Killing Over 20 Soldiers, Including Six North Korean Officers
According to Ukrainian media reports citing intelligence sources, the country’s military recently launched a missile attack on the Donetsk region, which is occupied by Russia. The attack resulted in the deaths of over twenty soldiers, including six North Korean officers.
The Kyiv Post reported that on October 3, the Ukrainian military carried out a missile attack near Donetsk, resulting in the deaths of over 20 enemy soldiers, including 6 from North Korea, with 3 North Korean soldiers also injured.
The Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate stated last year that a limited special forces contingent from North Korea had arrived on Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by Russia, including engineering units, indicating active cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
The Center for National Resistance in Ukraine reported in September 2023 that Russia planned to bring in North Korean laborers to work in construction in the occupied Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Furthermore, Russian President Putin, after meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June this year, convinced Kim to “establish diplomatic missions in Donetsk and Luhansk”.
The CNR assessed that the Russia-Ukraine war has led to labor shortages in Russia and its occupied territories in Ukraine, with Russia hoping North Korea can provide labor for these regions.
In addition, according to a report in The Times UK on October 4, North Korea also provided a significant amount of ammunition to Russia during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The report cited Western intelligence sources, stating that half of the ammunition used by Russia in the conflict was supplied by North Korea, with North Korea providing approximately 3 million rounds of ammunition per year.
Due to the extensive use of weapons in Ukraine, Russia’s arsenal is gradually dwindling, with North Korea becoming a major supplier of weapons to Russia.
In a report by the South Korean news agency in August, it was stated that North Korea had delivered containers possibly containing over 6 million rounds of ammunition to Russia. Russia reportedly provided technology for spy satellite deployment, tanks, and aircraft to North Korea in exchange.
However, the quality of North Korean ammunition has long been questioned.
According to a previous report by Epoch Times, Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate, Vadym Skibitskyi, stated to the media that half of the ammunition provided by North Korea to Russia was unusable due to quality issues, even posing risks to Russian troops.