North Korea Confirms Troop Dispatch to Russia in Support of Ukraine Conflict
North Korea has officially confirmed the deployment of troops to Russia to assist in its war against Ukraine, aligning itself with Moscow’s objectives. U.S. and allied intelligence had previously estimated the number of troops sent to be between 10,000 and 12,000. Kim Jong Un cited a mutual defense treaty as the basis for this military cooperation.
In a notable development, North Korea has officially acknowledged that it has dispatched troops to Russia, marking the first confirmation of such a move amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine. U.S., South Korean, and Ukrainian intelligence agencies had reported last fall that approximately 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops were sent to support Russia. Until this week, North Korea had not publicly verified these troop movements.
According to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency, leader Kim Jong Un made the decision to deploy these combat troops as part of a mutual defense treaty with Russia. The agency quoted Kim stating that the primary objective of this deployment is to “annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area in cooperation with the Russian armed forces.” This assertion reflects Pyongyang’s alignment with Moscow amidst the ongoing war.
North Korea’s confirmation of troop deployment to Russia represents a significant shift in its foreign policy approach, indicating stronger military ties amid the geopolitical tensions surrounding Ukraine. The stated objectives of these North Korean troops reveal a clear alignment with Russia’s narrative in the conflict, which raises questions about future implications for regional stability and international relations.
Original Source: wsvn.com
