North Korea appears to be preparing to send additional troops and military equipment, including possibly drones, to Russia in support of its war against Ukraine. This was reported on Monday by the "Yonhap" agency, citing the South Korean military, reports News.bg.
We recall that North Korea has already sent thousands of soldiers to Russia, and the number of casualties among them is estimated at about 1,100 people according to South Korean intelligence data.
"A comprehensive assessment of multiple intelligence data shows that North Korea is preparing either to rotate forces already sent or to increase the deployment of troops in Russia. The country is currently supplying 240mm rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled artillery," South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. There are also signs that Pyongyang is beginning production and delivery of kamikaze drones, first demonstrated during a site inspection led by Kim Jong-un in November.
Last month, North Korean state media reported that leader Kim Jong-un had overseen tests of various types of attack drones. He called for large-scale production of the weapons, which play a key role in modern warfare because of their cost-effectiveness.
Seoul said there were no concrete signs of an imminent provocation by the North at this time. The country, however, is focused on expanding military cooperation with Russia and stable management of its domestic environment in preparation for a key plenary party meeting scheduled for the end of the year.
The South Korean military has not ruled out the possibility of North Korea carrying out surprise provocations to coincide with the political event, such as launching a medium-range ballistic missile equipped with a hypersonic warhead.
North Korea is expected to continue its provocative actions next year, including launching garbage balloons and GPS jamming attacks.
"Due to the need to support Russia next year, the North will likely feel constrained in provoking military tensions or conflicts that could lead to the opening of a new front. "However, the need to share information with the US and maintain a firm combat readiness remains vital, as there is also the possibility that North Korea could carry out serious provocations, including an intercontinental ballistic missile launch or a nuclear test," the South Korean military said in a statement.