Russia has denied reports that North Korean soldiers are directly involved in its invasion of Ukraine.
Six North Korean officers deployed to Russian-occupied territory near Donetsk were killed in a missile strike, the Kyiv Post reported on Oct. 4, citing unnamed sources with alleged access to military intelligence. This was followed up by a report from the Guardian, citing anonymous sources, that “dozens” of North Korean soldiers are known to be assisting the Russian military in operating ballistic missiles supplied by Pyongyang.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov flatly denied the claims of North Korean involvement in the invasion, telling journalists that the reports “seem like yet another fake news story.”
High-ranking officials in the South Korean government have backed up the claims, however, calling North Korean troops deploying to the region “highly likely.”
“We assess that the occurrence of casualties among North Korean officers and soldiers in Ukraine is highly likely, considering various circumstances,” South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun said Tuesday, according to the Moscow Times. “The issue of deploying regular troops is highly likely due to the mutual agreements that resemble a military alliance between Russia and North Korea.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told the Washington Examiner on Friday that it had “no specific information to share” about reports of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine, but the spokesperson said such a situation would indicate severe problems for the Russian military.
“Deepening cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is a trend that should be of great concern to anyone interested in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, upholding the global non-proliferation regime, and supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and independence against Russia’s brutal war of aggression,” a State Department spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.
“If these reports are confirmed to be true, they would continue to demonstrate Russia’s profound desperation,” the person added.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense pact with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June during a state visit to the East Asian country — the most comprehensive affirmation of their military alliance since the dissolution of the USSR.
International watchdogs and U.S. military officials have flagged multiple points of evidence that Kim Jong Un is materially supporting Russia’s war, such as Korean language characters found on remnants of Russia-launched missiles in the region.
However, thus far, no concrete proof of soldiers deploying to the region has been confirmed.
