Moscow Standing Firmly Behind Kim's "Uncompromising" Support
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is currently on a three-day visit to North Korea, where he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. During their meeting, Kim reaffirmed his country's "unconditional" support for Russia in its war against Ukraine.
According to reports, North Korea is expected to send additional troops to support Russia, with estimates suggesting that up to two brigades of "military construction workers" totaling around 5,000 men, plus a further 1,000 combat troops, may be deployed. Previously, at least 10,000 North Korean soldiers were believed to have been deployed in Russia's Kursk region, where they played a prominent role in front-line combat.
Heavy casualties have been reported among the North Korean forces, with British intelligence estimating more than 6,000 North Korean casualties, roughly half of the initial deployment. Both Russia and North Korea have publicly acknowledged the North Korean troops' role in offensives against Ukrainian forces.
The potential troop involvement from North Korea could be in the range of 6,000 to 7,000 additional personnel beyond the previously deployed 10,000, although exact future numbers remain uncertain. North Korean troops have demonstrated adaptability, gaining experience in modern combat and drone warfare, which impacts the battlefield dynamics significantly.
The strategic partnership agreement between North Korea and Russia, including military aid if one of them is attacked, was sealed in summer 2024. The agreement's implications for the ongoing Ukraine conflict remain to be seen.
In exchange for military assistance, Russia is reportedly providing food, funds, and aiding North Korea's rocket programs. The assessment by Ukrainian intelligence is that North Korea may continue to provide military support to Russia.
Lavrov, when asked about future deployments, referred to Pyongyang, implying that North Korea would decide on the forms of implementing their strategic partnership agreement. However, no specific details have been provided about the forms of military assistance North Korea may provide.
The meeting between Lavrov and Kim took place in the coastal city of Wonsan, where Kim recently inaugurated a new tourist facility. Lavrov reportedly told Kim that Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to have direct contacts with Kim in the near future, although no official confirmation of such contacts has been made.
[1] Source: BBC News, The Guardian, Reuters, and AP reports.
- The European Union, being committed to the implementation of the UN Charter, has expressed concern over the escalating war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, particularly the involvement of North Korea, which has reaffirmed its unconditional support for Russia in these politics that have dominated the general-news recently.
- As the conflict in Ukraine continues, politics surrounding the involvement of North Korea have taken center stage, with reports suggesting potential troop deployments of up to 7,000 North Korean soldiers, gaining experience in modern combat and drone warfare, a development that significantly impacts the battlefield dynamics in this war-and-conflict.
