North Korea may send troops to Ukraine

Kim's assessment comes as North Korea seeks to strengthen ties with Russia, highlighted by a bilateral agreement that includes a mutual defense clause, according to Yonhap. That agreement was signed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in June.

"Since Russia and North Korea have signed a joint treaty that is similar to a military alliance, such a deployment is very possible," Minister Kim told South Korean lawmakers.

Soldiers take part in a military parade marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army in Pyongyang on February 8, 2023.

In that context, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun said that recent reports of North Korean casualties in Russian-controlled territory near the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk were also likely true, according to Yonhap.

Last week, the Kyiv Post , citing an intelligence source, reported that more than 20 soldiers were killed in an October 3 missile attack on Russian-controlled territory near the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. Among the 20 dead were six officers from North Korea who had come to talk to their Russian counterparts, the Kyiv Post reported. Three more North Korean soldiers were wounded in the October 3 attack, the Post reported.

Kyiv Post also cited information from Russian social networks saying that before the missile attack on October 3, Russia demonstrated to North Korean representatives the training of personnel for offensive and defensive actions.

Last year, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (HUR) reported the arrival of a small contingent of North Korean troops in Russian-controlled territory in Ukraine, indicating active cooperation between Russia and North Korea, according to the Kyiv Post .

There is currently no information about the reaction of North Korea and Russia to the above comments from South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun as well as information from Kyiv Post .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bo-truong-quoc-phong-han-quoc-trieu-tien-co-the-dua-quan-den-ukraine-18524100820435478.htm