North Korean troops deployed to Ukraine are facing significant challenges, according to British intelligence. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) reported that around 10,000 North Korean fighters have been sent as part of a military cooperation agreement with Russia.
It is "almost certain" that some of these forces have already been stationed in Russia’s Kursk region, located near the Ukrainian border. However, the MoD believes these troops are encountering logistical issues due to the lack of prior collaboration between North Korean and Russian forces.
The British intelligence update highlighted that North Korean and Russian troops would likely struggle with interoperability. They noted that without previous joint exercises, North Korean soldiers may have trouble adapting to Russian military equipment, and command structures, and overcoming language barriers. These obstacles could hinder their effectiveness in combat, complicating their integration into Russia's ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.
Separately, the MoD commented on Russia's internal crackdown on dissent. President Vladimir Putin has reportedly tightened control over Russian citizens who may oppose his regime. Convictions for treason have surged to a nine-year high, with the number of cases in the first half of 2024 surpassing those in all of 2023. This trend reflects Moscow’s hardline stance against potential dissent as the war in Ukraine drags on.
On the ground, a Pentagon report recently noted that a "small number" of North Korean troops have been confirmed in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have been active since August. An anonymous Ukrainian official also claimed that North Korean troops are stationed about 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian-Russian border.
While President Putin has not confirmed or denied the presence of North Korean forces, Moscow’s UN representative, Vassily Nebenzia, dismissed these claims as "disinformation" by Western nations. He asserted that North Korean forces were not active on the frontlines. The United Nations has been closely monitoring these developments, with Miroslav Jenca, the UN’s assistant secretary-general for Europe, noting their “serious concern,” though they have not independently verified the troop presence.
Meanwhile, diplomatic engagements have been ongoing. North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, discussing "strategic" interests, while Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat and North Korea’s ally, conferred with a Russian official in Beijing on the Ukraine crisis. Pyongyang has officially denied deploying troops, though its vice foreign minister suggested that if it were to occur, it would align with international standards.
Putin is getting desperate in employing troops from north Koria He is in a corner locally and internationally and typical a dictator he will do anything to reach his goal. Why the Russian people tollorate him is a mystery. They have lived under a dictator for so long they have accepted it. Was it in a western country the people would have tackle the streets by now.
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