North Korean troops set to deploy to Russia's kursk oblast for Ukraine war | VIDEO
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling for the Euro-Atlantic community to recognize that North Korea is "invading Europe side by side with Russia."
World News: On October 18, Ukraine's Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security released a video purportedly showcasing North Korean soldiers at a Russian military camp, gearing up to participate in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This development coincides with reports suggesting that Moscow intends to enlist Pyongyang in its full-scale military efforts against Ukraine in the coming months.
Deployment plans for North Korean troops
Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov disclosed that an initial group of 2,600 North Korean soldiers is slated for deployment to Russia's Kursk Oblast. This region has been a focal point of Ukraine's cross-border incursions since August, where significant territories remain under Ukrainian control. Budanov indicated that nearly 11,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in Russia and will be "ready to fight" in Ukraine by November 1.
⚡️⚡️⚡️ North Korea 🇰🇵 has joined Russia 🇷🇺 & Iran’s 🇮🇷 war against Ukraine 🇺🇦 - a fact now confirmed by South Korean 🇰🇷 intelligence.
— Jason Jay Smart (@officejjsmart) October 18, 2024
In this video, North Korean soldiers are being fitted with Russian uniforms.
👉 The West must wake up: We are at war. We must defeat this evil. pic.twitter.com/yFWDbso4JX
Video footage from Sergeevsky military camp
The footage, produced by Ukraine's Culture and Information Ministry, allegedly captures scenes from the Sergeevsky military camp in Russia’s Far East, close to the North Korean border. The video shows troops in military uniforms lining up to receive equipment. However, the Center did not disclose the source of the video, stating that it is "no more than 72 hours old." The Kyiv Independent has not been able to independently verify the authenticity of these claims.
Urging the Euro-Atlantic community to act
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling for the Euro-Atlantic community to recognize that North Korea is "invading Europe side by side with Russia." He urged allies to enhance military support for Ukraine, remove restrictions on strikes using Western-supplied long-range weapons against targets within Russia, and take action against Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukraine.
In response to the unfolding events, Pentagon spokesperson Pat Ryder stated on October 17 that he could not confirm the presence of North Korean forces in Russia but assured that the U.S. would "continue to monitor" the situation. If the reports prove accurate, it would signify the precarious position Russia finds itself in regarding its military capabilities on the battlefield.
