North Korea to Send Military Builders, Deminers to Russia
North Korea plans to send military builders and deminers to Russia following the Ukraine conflict. This follows a meeting between Sergei Shoigu and Kim Jong Un, marking increased military cooperation between the two nations. Details on the nature of the cooperation are limited, but it is seen as fraternal assistance, strengthening their strategic partnership.
North Korea is set to send military builders and demining specialists to Russia’s Kursk region following Ukraine’s ongoing incursion, as reported by Russian news agencies. The announcement was made during a visit by Sergei Shoigu, the head of Russia’s Security Council, who recently met with Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang. This meeting marked their second discussion in under two weeks.
According to the reports, this military cooperation expands upon North Korea’s existing support for Russia in the three-year-long conflict in Ukraine, particularly in providing troops assisting to push Ukrainian forces back in Kursk. The planned dispatch includes a division of builders and two military brigades, totaling around 5,000 personnel, plus an additional 1,000 deminers.
“This is a kind of fraternal assistance from the Korean people and leader Kim Jong Un to our country,” Shoigu reportedly stated, indicating the affinity between the two nations in their current political landscape. North Korean state media echoed this sentiment, highlighting the congenial spirit of the discussions and affirming the nation’s commitment to further bilaterally beneficial projects.
Details of the collaborative effort remain somewhat vague, but Shoigu indicated that various critical items for immediate cooperation were discussed between the Russian and North Korean leaders. Moreover, they touched on long-term strategies aimed at fulfilling commitments made through personal letters exchanged in recent weeks, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The two nations solidified their military partnership last year, which includes a mutual defense agreement following a rare visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea. Reports suggest that North Korea has been supplying arms to support Russian military operations against Ukraine.
In an earlier meeting with Kim and top military leaders, Shoigu voiced a shared aspiration to deepen the ties between Russia and North Korea, seeking to develop these relations into a robust strategic partnership. The developments signal an ongoing alignment of interests as both countries navigate their respective challenges on the global stage.
In summary, North Korea is gearing up to dispatch military builders and demining forces to Russia’s Kursk region, reflecting growing ties amid ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The collaboration, characterized as fraternal assistance by officials, includes significant troop and specialist deployments. While details of future cooperation remain limited, both nations are evidently committed to bolstering their military partnership, reflecting a shared strategic ambition against a backdrop of international tension and conflict.
Original Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
