The good news, Ambassador Kim stated, is that Russia’s conventional weapons have proven to be “not as formidable as we expected” following their deployment in Ukraine’s ongoing conflict.
“Therefore, while we acknowledge the potential risk that Russia’s advanced military technology could eventually flow into North Korea, leading to enhancements in North Korea’s military capabilities, I firmly believe that our strong alliance with South Korea equips us to navigate and overcome such challenges,” Kim emphasized.
Trading space tech for lives
It increasingly appears that a strategic relationship between North Korea and Russia is blossoming. Last month, US government officials disclosed that North Korea has dispatched approximately 10,000 troops to take part in training exercises in eastern Russia, marking a significant historical moment as it is the first occasion in more than a century that Russia has welcomed foreign soldiers onto its territory.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken highlighted on Thursday that a significant number of these North Korean forces have since moved closer to the Ukrainian border, raising concerns about the implications of this military maneuvering.
“The most recent intelligence indicates that as many as 8,000 of those North Korean forces have been deployed to the Kursk region,” Blinken reported. “While we have not yet observed these troops engaging directly in combat against Ukrainian forces, we anticipate that such confrontations could materialize in the coming days.”
Ukrainian military units have managed to occupy a small portion of Russia’s Kursk region since August while fierce fighting remains ongoing within Ukraine’s borders amid this escalating situation.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin conveyed that US intelligence officials assess that Russian forces have taken steps to train North Korean soldiers in crucial military disciplines such as artillery maneuvers, drone operations, and fundamental infantry tactics, including the critical skill of trench-clearing. The presence of North Korean troops in Russian uniforms further suggests an intention from Russia to deploy them on the front lines against Ukraine.
“One of the reasons that Russia is increasingly relying on these North Korean troops is indicative of their desperation,” Blinken remarked. “President Putin has been sending more and more of his own Russian troops into a perilous and costly conflict in Ukraine. Now, in a clear sign of weakness, he is resorting to utilizing North Korean troops in the fray.”
