North Korean troops are being equipped in Russia ahead of a possible deployment to Ukraine

CNN —

North Korean soldiers were filmed receiving uniforms and equipment at a training ground in Russia’s Far East, appearing to confirm reports from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) that 1,500 soldiers were sent for military training to be stationed in Ukraine.

North Korean troops are believed to be undergoing training before being sent to the front lines in Ukraine, in what is seen as a clear sign of a continuing warming in relations between Moscow and Pyongyang.

In a video provided to CNN by the Ukrainian government organization Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security, a long line of soldiers can be seen queuing to buy their uniforms. The soldiers are believed to speak Korean, although poor audio quality meant their conversations could not be fully understood.

Upon arrival in Russia, North Korean recruits were asked to fill out a questionnaire indicating the size of hats, hats, uniforms and shoes. In a copy of the questionnaire provided to CNN, the top of the form is written in Russian and the various size options are written in Korean.

Another video circulated on social media and geolocated by CNN showed troops arriving at the Sergeevka training ground near Russia’s border with China. In the video, a Russian speaker can be heard in the background saying: “We can’t film them,” and then adding: “There are more of them… there are millions of them here. Here are the new reinforcements. This is just the beginning. There’s more.”

The findings appear to confirm long-standing concerns in Kyiv that North Korea is preparing to become more directly involved in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly raised alarm about the deepening Russia-North Korea alliance, telling a NATO summit this week that “thousands” of North Korean troops were heading to Russia.

“Based on the intelligence that I have… they are training 10,000 soldiers, various soldiers, ground forces, technical personnel,” Zelensky told reporters, calling it an “urgent” issue he had discussed with the United States.

South Korean media previously reported that the North would send a total of 12,000 troops, although that figure was not included in the national intelligence statement.

This could be the first time North Korea has intervened significantly in an international conflict. North Korea has one of the world’s largest armed forces, with 1.2 million soldiers, but many of its soldiers lack combat experience.

Many governments have accused Pyongyang of supplying weapons to Moscow for its brutal war in Ukraine. Both countries have rejected this accusation, despite significant evidence of such shipments.

The two countries, both pariahs in the West, have developed increasingly warm relations since the Russian invasion.

During Putin’s visit to the North Korean capital in June, both countries pledged to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event of an attack on the other country, part of a historic defense pact agreed upon by the autocratic countries.

Putin said during the trip that the two countries were taking ties to a “new level.”

In a speech ahead of talks between the two countries, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed “full support and solidarity with the struggle of the Russian government, armed forces and people,” specifically pointing to Moscow’s war in Ukraine “to defend its own sovereignty.” security and territorial stability.”

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