North Korea proactively offers to send troops to support Russia in dealing with Ukraine?

US intelligence believes that North Korea proactively offered to send troops to support Russia, contrary to previous assessments that Moscow made the offer because it was short of troops in the conflict with Ukraine.

Mr. Putin (right) and Mr. Kim met in Russia's Amur region in September 2023

The mobilization of North Korean soldiers to support Russia in the conflict with Ukraine was a request from Pyongyang, not Moscow, according to The New York Times on December 23, citing US intelligence sources.

When North Korean soldiers began arriving in Russia this fall, some Western officials took it as a sign that the Kremlin was asking for help because it desperately needed more troops.

However, US officials say the country's intelligence agencies now suspect the troop movement was North Korea's idea, although Russian President Vladimir Putin quickly accepted it.

Severe military shortage, Ukraine deploys air defense soldiers as infantry

Ukraine and the West believe North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent at least 10,000 troops to Russia.

These soldiers are mainly coordinating with Russian units to launch counterattacks against a group of Ukrainian soldiers who have controlled some areas of Russia's Kursk province since the summer.

US officials do not believe Mr Kim received anything immediately in return. Instead, they say the leader may hope Russia will reciprocate in the future by assisting in diplomatic efforts, providing support if a crisis erupts and providing technology.

A Ukrainian official who monitors North Korean military movements said the force is increasing its frontline presence and cooperating with Russian units.

According to AFP on December 24, South Korea said that more than 1,000 North Korean soldiers were killed or injured while supporting Russia, while Ukraine said the number was more than 3,000.

Russia has neither confirmed nor denied the presence of North Korean troops in the country. North Korea initially denied sending troops to Russia, but an official in Pyongyang later said the move, if it did take place, would be legal.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/trieu-tien-chu-dong-de-nghi-dieu-binh-si-ho-tro-nga-doi-pho-ukraine-185241224095912978.htm