In the last week of October, Russia transferred over seven thousand North Korean soldiers to areas near the border with Ukraine, military intelligence in Kiev reported. As it was added, these soldiers had previously received Russian weapons and equipment.
Ukrainian intelligence reported on Saturday that the Russian army used at least 28 military transport planes to transport North Korean troops. “Moscow armed North Korean soldiers with 60 mm mortars, AK-12 assault rifles, RPK/PKM machine guns, sniper rifles, anti-tank missiles and grenade launchers,” the intelligence agency said in a post on Telegram.
According to the findings of the Ukrainian services, North Korean soldiers also received night vision goggles, thermal cameras, collimator sights and binoculars. The training of North Korean soldiers who are to be sent to the Ukrainian front is taking place at five training grounds in the Russian Far East, military intelligence in Kiev added.
READ also: Zelensky calls on the West to act regarding North Korean troops in Russia
North Korean soldiers. Illustrative photo KCNA VIA KNS
Kim's soldiers at the front
Previous estimates by South Korea's intelligence services said that the Pyongyang regime would send to war with Ukraine at least 12 thousand soldiers.
Well-known Russian Koreanist Andrei Lankov told the German station Deutsche Welle that the number may be much higher – 60,000. This – in his opinion – would be the maximum that Pyongyang can offer, otherwise the combat readiness of Kim Jong Un's army would be reduced.
According to Łańków, in exchange for sending soldiers to war with Ukraine, North Korea may request from Russia access to military technologies, including those related to nuclear weapons. This includes, for example, the construction of nuclear submarines. Building our own submarine is one of the priorities declared by the authorities in Pyongyang, Łańkov recalled.
Zelensky's appeal
On Friday, the president Volodymyr Zelensky asked Western allies to help fight the North Korean army by supplying long-range weapons. Zelensky said that Ukrainians could attack the new enemy in advance.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian leader said in an interview with South Korean media that the reaction of Western countries to reports that North Korean soldiers had appeared in Russia to be sent to the front was “zero.”
NV, Ukraińska Pravda, tvn24.pl
Main photo source: KCNA VIA KNS