North Korean troops bolster Russia amid Ukrainian conflict
The military cooperation agreement between Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea includes a secret clause that involves the deployment of 12,000 soldiers from Kim Jong Un's regime to the conflict in Ukraine, reports "The Wall Street Journal", citing sources within Russian intelligence.
Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to North Korea in June to negotiate a military cooperation agreement with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un. The Wall Street Journal has disclosed new details about this agreement.
The American newspaper, referencing its sources in Russian intelligence, states that the agreement contains a secret clause stipulating that 12,000 North Korean soldiers are to assist Russia in the conflict in Ukraine. The Pentagon confirms that there is evidence of some of these soldiers being present in the Russian Federation.
"WSJ" reports that the majority of the DPRK soldiers are to be stationed in a secure area of the front line, where they will observe Russian logistical operations and become acquainted with the principles of drone warfare.
Increased tensions benefit Russia
In a conversation with the American newspaper, Benjamin R. Young, a nuclear security specialist at Rand Corporation, suggests that Pyongyang is taking advantage of the situation to learn how to execute a war of attrition using artillery. No training ground can fully replicate the conditions of actual wartime experiences.
According to the WSJ, this is intended to prepare North Korea for a conflict with its southern neighbour. The escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula is advantageous to Vladimir Putin because it could shift US focus away from Ukraine.
Experts observe that North Korean forces will not significantly change the situation on the Ukrainian front. Nevertheless, North Korea is creating challenges for Kyiv by supplying weapons to Russian forces, which is also an aspect of the regimes' cooperation.
