North Korea's military aid to Russia: A global security concern
North Korea supplies Russia with ammunition and military equipment, enabling Moscow to continue its military operations in Ukraine. At the same time, former Deputy Minister of Defense of South Korea, Gen. Il Sung, expressed concern about this situation. What could be the consequences for the world and his country?
The head of Ukrainian foreign intelligence, Oleh Ivashchenko, in a conversation with the Ukrinform agency, revealed that Russia receives significant military support from North Korea. This support includes the delivery of ammunition and heavy equipment, allowing the Russian army to continue its military campaigns in Ukraine.
Deliveries of ammunition, equipment, and soldiers from North Korea
According to Ivashchenko, since the beginning of the full-scale war, over six million North Korean artillery shells of calibres 122 mm and 152 mm have arrived in Russia. They are crucial for Russian artillery systems such as 2S3 Akatsiya and 2S19 Msta. Additionally, North Korea provides Russia with M1991 multiple rocket launchers and Koksan artillery systems.
Besides equipment, Russia benefits from the assistance of several thousand North Korean soldiers, who have been deployed in Kursk Oblast. Initially, they operated the delivered equipment, but since May, the Koksan artillery systems have been operated by Russians.
Russia is not alone. The head of NATO emphasized that Russia is not waging war against Ukraine in isolation. The Secretary General of the Alliance, Mark Rutte, during his speech at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly session in Dayton, highlighted the growing cooperation between four authoritarian countries: Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
- These four countries are acting together – we should not be naive, - he emphasized.
What are the key motivations of the Koreans?
Ivashchenko points out that North Korea's assistance to Russia is not altruistic. In exchange for military support, Moscow shares missile and space technology with Pyongyang. The transfer of technology related to nuclear weapons is also not excluded.
Russia struggles with outdated military equipment. As Ivashchenko emphasizes, as much as 80 percent of the Russian equipment used in Ukraine comes from storage and is outdated. Only 20 percent are modern systems, as confirmed by open-source intelligence analyses.
Does the presence of North Korean troops threaten South Korea and the global order?
The former Deputy Minister of Defense of South Korea, Gen. Il Sung, expressed concern about the involvement of North Korean soldiers in the war in Ukraine. He emphasized that the experience they gain might pose a threat to Seoul. These soldiers, he stated, have "brainwashed minds" and are ready to act according to Kim Jong Un's orders.
Gen. Il Sung noted that by fighting in Ukraine, North Korean soldiers might gain new skills and technologies that could be used against South Korea.
- This experience will be very dangerous for South Korea, - said the General.
