North Korean command centre in Kursk sparks regional tension
The Ukrainian ambassador to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, revealed the existence of a North Korean "command centre" in the Kursk region of Russia.
16 November 2024 16:33
The Ukrainian ambassador to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, in a conversation with "Voice of America" (VOA), revealed that a North Korean "command centre" is operating in the Kursk region of Russia. It includes seven officers from Pyongyang.
North Korean presence in Russia
According to Ponomarenko, the command centre includes seven North Korean generals, including three staff members and four brigade commanders. The Yonhap agency emphasises that it is unclear who created this unit or what its exact role is.
The ambassador reported that the 93rd Special Forces Brigade of the North Korean Army in the Kursk region consists of 876 soldiers, including 72 officers. It was deployed approximately 1.6 kilometres from the village of Riechitsa.
Increase in soldier numbers
There are already 11,000 North Korean soldiers in the region, and this number is expected to increase to 15,000. Ponomarenko assessed that although the presence of 10,000-15,000 soldiers will not fundamentally change the situation on the front, it will be a burden for Ukrainian forces.
The ambassador pointed out that if the contingent is rotated every two to three months, then roughly 100,000 North Korean soldiers with experience in modern warfare could appear over the course of a year. This could significantly impact the situation on the Korean Peninsula.
