North Korea more likely to ship extra troops to Russia by August, South Korea says

North Korea is more likely to ship extra troops to Russia as early as July or August to bolster Moscow's struggle effort in opposition to Ukraine, South Korea's Nationwide Intelligence Service (NIS) mentioned throughout a closed-door briefing, Yonhap reported on June 26.

In line with lawmakers briefed by the NIS, Pyongyang has already begun recruiting troopers for deployment to Russia. The newest intelligence provides to rising issues in regards to the increasing scope of North Korea's involvement in Russia's struggle.

The extra troop deployment would come on high of what Seoul estimates is already substantial assist from North Korea, together with the switch of over 10 million artillery shells, and ballistic missiles in change for financial and technical help.

Yonhap's reporting follows current findings that Pyongyang could ship as much as 25,000 laborers to Russia to assist drone manufacturing, particularly Shahed-type loitering munitions, on the Alabuga Particular Financial Zone in Tatarstan, in line with Japan's NHK broadcaster.

In return, Pyongyang reportedly seeks coaching in drone operations, signaling an effort to combine superior unmanned aerial capabilities into its personal navy arsenal.

Putin insists the Russian economy is fine, but Kremlin officials say otherwiseIn a rare public sign that all is not well in Russia, two high-ranking Moscow officials last week issued separate warnings about the state of the country’s economy. Russian Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina and Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov both highlighted that amid the Kremlin’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the tools Moscow once relied on to maintain wartime growth are nearly exhausted. Almost immediately, Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 20 dismissed the concerns, claiThe Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

The developments come amid intensifying diplomatic exchanges between the 2 authoritarian regimes. Russian Safety Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu traveled to North Korea on June 17 below a particular directive from President Vladimir Putin.

After assembly North Korean chief Kim Jong Un, Shoigu introduced that Pyongyang had agreed to dispatch 1,000 sappers and 5,000 navy engineers to Russia's Kursk Oblast.

North Korean fight models have already participated in front-line operations. 1000’s of troops helped Russia repel a Ukrainian cross-border offensive into Kursk Oblast that started in August 2024.

Ukraine briefly held 1,300 sq. kilometers within the area earlier than dropping many of the territory throughout Russia's March 2025 counteroffensive, which was supported by Pyongyang. The U.Ok. protection intelligence estimates place North Korean casualties at over 6,000.

Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's navy intelligence chief, mentioned on June 9 that Russia and North Korea had agreed to start home manufacturing of Shahed-136 drones on North Korean territory, additional solidifying their navy partnership.

Throughout Russia's Could 9 Victory Day Parade in Moscow, President Putin personally greeted North Korean troops in Crimson Sq., underscoring the alliance's symbolic and operational depth.

Kim didn’t attend however stays one of many Kremlin's staunchest overseas backers.

Russia reportedly helping North Korea build warships, but questions over seaworthiness remain after failed launchSatellite imagery and launch footage suggest a clear Russian design influence.The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy