North Korea Increases Military Support to Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict

North Korea deployed an additional 3,000 troops to Russia to offset losses incurred during the Ukraine war. Casualties among North Korean forces are high due to inexperience and tactics. Pyongyang is also providing various military supplies to Moscow, strengthening their partnership.

In January and February, North Korea dispatched approximately 3,000 additional soldiers to support Russian military efforts amidst continuing losses in the Ukraine war, as reported by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. This development follows President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement indicating that North Korean forces sustained around 4,000 casualties during combat operations, with two-thirds of these troops killed.

Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, suggested that the high casualty rate of the North Korean forces can be attributed to their lack of combat experience and their reliance on human wave tactics using insufficient equipment. The report further highlights that North Korea has supplemented Russia’s military needs with short-range ballistic missiles, 170 mm self-propelled howitzers, and 240 mm multiple rocket launchers.

As a key military ally, North Korea has been instrumental in supplying Russia with artillery shells, missiles, and troops in exchange for essential oil products and advanced rocket technologies. Notably, up to 12,000 North Korean troops were stationed in Kursk Oblast last fall to assist Russian forces in repelling a Ukrainian incursion that began in August 2024, during which Ukraine initially captured 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian territory before a recent counteroffensive reclaimed significant ground, including the town of Sudzha.

In summary, North Korea has significantly increased its military engagement with Russia by sending additional troops and supplying weaponry amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The high casualties among North Korean forces highlight the challenges faced due to their inexperience and tactics. This collaboration not only underscores North Korea’s role as a military asset for Russia but also the ongoing complexities within the region’s geopolitical landscape.

Original Source: kyivindependent.com