S. Korea’s spy agency was aware of North’s troops in Russia in July

Oct 24, 2024, 10:37 am

		0
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspects a strategic missile base, in this photo provided by the North’s Korean Central News Agency on Oct. 23, 2024./ Source: Yonhap

AsiaToday reporter Han Dae-eui

While North Korea has reportedly sent troops to Russia for possible deployment in Ukraine, it has been found that the South Korean intelligence authorities have already been monitoring the North Korean military’s dispatch to Russia since early July. They were aware that Russian President Vladimir Putin met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang in June to discuss the dispatch of North Korean troops.

According to AsiaToday’s report on Wednesday, it has been found that numerous intelligence organizations in the public-private military have found out about the North Korean military’s dispatch in early July.

They have reportedly recognized the facts through various North Korean sources on July 2. Regarding this, an anonymous private North Korean intelligence source told AsiaToday that Putin confirmed that he had dealt with not only the North Korean military’s support but also the dispatch of troops, which has been reported to our intelligence authorities.

By then, nearly 20,000 North Korean troops were sent to the Russia-Ukraine war, and it was confirmed that there were four combat engineering brigades. This is in line with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement that North Korea sent a total of 12,000 soldiers, two brigades with 6,000 each to Russia on Tuesday.

Chinese media outlets, including Phoenix Newspaper, reported on June 29 and July 2 that North Korea sent four combat engineering brigades to Russia. At the time, Chinese media outlets reported that North Korea claimed to be sending troops to Russia for restoration work, but that they are highly likely to be served as combat forces. They reported that four North Korean brigades would be sent to eastern Ukraine and support local war activities. “The dispatched North Korean military is expected to conduct military operations in the Donetsk region of Ukraine,” they reported. “These troops are expected to arrive in Donetsk next month (August).”

This confirms the South Korean intelligence authorities’ information of the size of the North Korean troops dispatched to Russia.

At that time, when relations between North Korea and China were deteriorating, the Chinese government might have deliberately leaked the information.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that Russia has been requesting the North to send troops from the beginning of the year. However, the dispatch was decided after Putin visited the North, and Kim Jong-un is believed to have decided to send troops one week after Putin returned. Russia has reportedly agreed to pay $115 million for the 20,000 troops to be sent.

#North Korean troops #Russia