Intelligence report: North Korean troops may join Russia-Ukraine front lines

South Korea's Defense Intelligence Agency has indicated that some North Korean troops may have been deployed to the front lines of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

According to lawmakers from both major political parties, this assessment was shared during a closed-door meeting of the parliamentary Intelligence Committee on October 30, Caliber.Az reports per South Korean media.

While foreign media outlets have reported the presence of North Korean personnel at the front lines, the Defence Intelligence Agency has stated that it does not yet have precise information regarding this situation.

However, it anticipates that their deployment to key battlegrounds, including the Kursk region, is imminent.

The military unit also suggested that North Korea might seek to draw attention to its nuclear programme in the lead-up to the US presidential election next week. They noted that preparations for a nuclear test at the Punggye-ri facility appear to be complete.

Furthermore, the agency reported that preparations for space launchers and long-range ballistic missiles capable of intercontinental travel seem to be nearing completion. A test launch to validate atmospheric reentry technology is expected to occur either just before or after the election on November 5.

In a recent development, on October 28, the Pentagon disclosed that North Korea has reportedly dispatched approximately 10,000 troops to Russia for training, with indications that some of these forces may soon engage in combat against Ukraine. Western leaders have expressed concerns that this development could further escalate the nearly three-year-long conflict and strain diplomatic relations in the Indo-Pacific region.

Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh confirmed that certain North Korean troops have already been deployed towards Ukraine, specifically in the Kursk region, which has seen significant resistance from Ukrainian forces. Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte acknowledged recent intelligence from Ukraine, suggesting that North Korean military units are indeed present in the Kursk area.

The deployment of North Korean troops is anticipated to increase pressure on Ukraine's armed forces and heighten tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with potential implications for countries such as Japan and Australia.

Analysts observe that Russian President Vladimir Putin appears intent on countering Western influence on a global scale, a sentiment underscored by last week's BRICS summit held in Russia, which included leaders from China and India. Moscow has been seeking military assistance from Iran, receiving drones, and has turned to North Korea for significant supplies of ammunition, according to sources from the West.

By Aghakazim Guliyev