The South Korean government reportedly said North Korea was preparing to ‘deploy additional troops’ to support Russia’s war effort.
More than 1,000 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded in the war between Russia and Ukraine, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.
Monday’s announcement follows a report by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service to lawmakers last week that said at least 100 North Korean soldiers have been killed since taking part in fighting in December.
North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to reinforce Russian forces, including in the Kursk border region, where Ukrainian forces seized territory earlier this year.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement, “Based on various information and intelligence, we estimate that the North Korean military that recently engaged in combat with the Ukrainian military suffered approximately 1,100 casualties.”
Seoul, Washington and Kiev say about 12,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Russia.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff added that North Korea “is known to be preparing for rotational or additional deployment of soldiers.”
JCS also noted that intelligence suggests that nuclear-armed North Korea is “producing and providing self-destructive drones” to Russia to further support Moscow in its war against Ukraine.
North Korea is also accused of providing missiles and artillery shells to Russia.
North Korea and Russia have been strengthening their military ties since they invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The landmark defense agreement between Pyongyang and Moscow signed last June took effect this month.
Experts say North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is eager to acquire advanced technology and military experience from Russia.
On Thursday, North Korea called a joint statement by the United States and its allies criticizing Pyongyang’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, including the deployment of troops, a reckless provocation.
Last month, South Korea and Ukraine also announced that they would deepen security cooperation in response to the “threat” posed by the deployment of North Korean troops, but there was no mention of the possibility of weapons shipments from Seoul to Kiev.
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol said in early November that his government “does not rule out the possibility of providing weapons” to Ukraine, which would be a significant change in South Korea’s long-standing policy of banning arms sales to countries in conflict.
