Ukraine assured that North Korean militarywhich until now were only found in the Russian Kursk region, They were also transferred to Belgorodwhich borders the northeastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv.
“Some servicemen of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea were transferred to the border of the Belgorod region“wrote on Telegram the head of the Central Intelligence Department of the National Security and Defense Council, Andriy Kovalenko.
The senior Ukrainian official stressed that “are not found in the Kharkiv region”, as some American media had reported based on Ukrainian sources.
Pyongyang has sent some 10,000 soldiers in recent weeks to support the Russian army in the invasion of Ukraine, as confirmed by NATO, Washington, kyiv and Seoul.
These soldiers were until now only in Kurskwhere Ukrainian troops have occupied part of the territory since their incursion last August, to support the Kremlin forces in expelling them from Russian territory.
This week the South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) also confirmed that Pyongyang has also exported rocket launchers and mobile artillery to Russia. and? Some North Korean soldiers appear to have already participated in combat operations against Ukraine embedded in Russian airborne and marine units.
For its part, the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal He said Thursday that a high-ranking North Korean general was wounded in a Ukrainian attack in Kursk.
For his part, the Secretary of Defense of USA, Lloyd Austinreported that approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers sent to Russia they could enter “soon” into combat against Ukraine.
The statements, made during a stop in Betterare supported by estimates from US intelligence services that have observed these troops in the Russian border region of Kursk.
“Based on what they have been trained, the way they have integrated into Russian formations, I fully anticipate seeing them in combat soon.”Austin stated, although he clarified that so far he has not received “significant reports” about the active participation of these troops in the clashes.
The deployment of North Korean soldiers responds to a military and economic cooperation agreement between Moscow y Pyongyangas reported Washington y Seoul.
This pact includes the supply of oil, anti-aircraft missiles and economic assistance to North Korea, senior South Korean officials and a research group said last week.
The alliance between Russia y North Korea is seen by the international community as a significant escalation in the Ukraine conflict. The United States and other allies have warned of the consequences of this mutual support, which bolsters Russian military capabilities while Pyongyang receives critical resources for its regime.
(With information from agencies)
