### North Korea Reportedly Training Thousands of Troops in Russia for Potential Ukraine Deployment

Ukrainian officials have raised alarms about North Korea's direct involvement in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. According to these sources, North Korean military engineers are already active in Russian-occupied territories, overseeing the deployment and use of weapons supplied by Pyongyang. Several North Korean personnel have allegedly been killed, highlighting their direct participation in combat operations.

A Ukrainian military intelligence official, who chose to remain anonymous, disclosed to The Washington Post that thousands of North Korean infantry soldiers are currently training in Russia. These troops could be sent to Ukraine before the end of the year. The official also noted that North Korean officers are present in the occupied areas to observe and gather information on battlefield conditions.

The protracted conflict has severely depleted Russia's military supplies, causing it to depend on countries like North Korea for essential artillery rounds and missiles. North Korea has reportedly dispatched over 1.5 million artillery shells, sourced from older stockpiles dating back to the 1970s and 1980s, to Russia.

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun told the National Assembly that the involvement of North Korean troops in aiding Russia is "highly likely." He emphasized the existing military alliance between Russia and North Korea could lead to further deployment of North Korean troops.

Cha Du-hyeogn, a former South Korean intelligence advisor, suggested that North Korea's support is not limited to basic artillery. Their military supplies likely include more sophisticated systems such as armored vehicles, missiles, and multiple rocket launchers that require on-ground supervision. This complexity underscores the necessity for North Korean military engineers to guide operations directly.

The military support from North Korea follows a defense pact signed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2024, strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Despite the Kremlin's dismissal of these claims as a "hoax," The Washington Post confirmed through Ukrainian military intelligence that a recent missile strike in Donetsk City resulted in the death of North Korean officers. On October 3, twenty Russian soldiers, including six North Korean officers, were reportedly killed by a Ukrainian missile. The deceased officers were allegedly engaged in meetings with their Russian counterparts.

Earlier this year, missile debris from attacks on Kharkiv was identified as North Korean in origin. Arms researchers and the United Nations have corroborated this information. Since then, Russia has continued to use at least 20 North Korean-made weapons in its offensive against Ukraine, leading to civilian casualties and injuries.