According to a South Korean investigation, Russia has already received arms supplies from North Korea worth up to five billion euros in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine. Moreover, the Pyongyang regime’s revenues could increase by hundreds of millions of euros due to a possible deployment of troops in Ukraine.
This is evident from the publication “Putin’s Partner” by the Friedrich Nauman Foundation. For the investigation, Olena Guseinova of Hankuk University of Foreign Languages in Seoul evaluated intelligence reports, leaked documents and ammunition prices from previous North Korean arms transactions. Based on this, the scientist estimates the volume of North Korean arms deliveries to Russia since February 2022 at between $1.7 billion and $5.5 billion.
Artillery shells and short-range rockets
North Korea itself does not publish data on its arms exports, making a more accurate estimate virtually impossible. The South Korean secret service bases its reports on satellite photos that it uses to monitor ship deliveries between North Korea and Russia. Accordingly, North Korea supports the Russian military mainly with artillery shells and short-range missiles.
On Thursday, Ukrainian military intelligence said North Korean units had already been observed in Russia’s Kursk region, which is partly controlled by Ukrainian forces. About 12,000 soldiers, including 500 officers and three generals, are in Russia and are being trained at five military bases. The United States says it has evidence of the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia. South Korean lawmakers had said that according to their information, North Korea had initially sent about 3,000 soldiers to Russia for an operation against Ukraine and that they wanted to increase that number.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Russian television on Friday that he reserves the right to use North Korean soldiers – making a broader statement than before. “If we have something to decide, we will decide,” Putin said. “It is our sovereign decision.” He drew a parallel with statements by Western states that had stated that Ukraine had chosen its own defense.
Aid pact between Russia and North Korea
Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reached an agreement on a strategic partnership in the North Korean capital Pyongyang in June. Article 4 of the Treaty states: “If one of the Contracting Parties is subjected to armed attack by a State or States and is therefore in a state of war, the other Contracting Party shall immediately provide military and other assistance using all means appropriate are available to her. availability.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
