North Korea is collaborating in Russia's warfare in opposition to Ukraine to realize fight expertise and modernize its army know-how, Ukraine's army intelligence (HUR) chief Kyrylo Budanov stated in an interview South Korean information outlet The Chosun printed on Feb. 17.
As much as 12,000 North Korean troops had been deployed to Kursk Oblast final fall to help Russian forces in countering a Ukrainian incursion launched in early August 2024.
"Regardless of heavy casualties, North Korean forces stay actively engaged in joint operations with Russian troops," Budanov stated.
"This warfare has mobilized the total army capabilities of the nations concerned. Solely three international locations — Ukraine, Russia, and North Korea — are gaining direct expertise in full-scale Twenty first-century warfare. The North Korean army of the long run will probably be essentially totally different from its previous," Budanov added.
The variety of North Korean artillery on the battlefield has elevated, and North Korean missiles have change into extra exact, in accordance with Budanov.
"Initially, their accuracy was severely flawed, with an error margin of 500 to 1,500 meters," he stated. "However Russian missile specialists made technical modifications, resolving the difficulty. The missile is now considerably extra exact and a far larger menace."
"North Korea is utilizing this warfare to realize fight expertise and modernize its army know-how," Budanov stated. "This may have lasting penalties for the safety panorama within the Asia-Pacific area."
North Korea and Russia have considerably strengthened their relations over the previous three years, significantly within the context of geopolitical alignment in opposition to Western nations, posing vital challenges to worldwide stability.
Within the fall of 2024, Russia and North Korea ratified a strategic partnership settlement which incorporates the event of commerce, scientific, technical, and protection cooperation. Nonetheless, the settlement didn’t point out the therapy of wounded Russian troopers.
Navy cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang additionally deepened in 2024, with Russian President Vladimir Putin signing a mutual protection pact with Kim in June.
Quickly after, North Korea escalated its involvement in Russia's warfare from offering weapons — together with artillery ammunition and ballistic missiles — to sending troopers.
Ukraine positioned North Korean losses to as many as 4,000 killed and injured. Budanov however predicted that North Korea may quickly ship reinforcements to Russia, specifically gun and rocket artillery models.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova