Zelensky’s fear has come true: North Korean soldiers are joining Russia

North Korean soldiers have been documented receiving uniforms and equipment at a training area in Russia’s Far East, the clearest confirmation yet of reports and assessments, from both Ukraine and South Korea, that North Korea will join Russia’s war in Ukraine. Reports from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) speak of 1,500 soldiers arriving for military training in Russia ahead of their deployment in Ukraine.

According to estimates, the North Korean forces will undergo training before arriving at the front line in Ukraine, in what is seen as a clear indication of the warming of relations between Moscow and Pyongyang.

In a video provided to CNN by a Ukrainian government organization, the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security, you can see a long line of soldiers waiting in line to receive their uniforms. The poor audio quality prevented a full understanding of their conversations, but the soldiers could be heard speaking Korean.

Upon arrival in Russia, the North Korean conscripts were asked to fill out a questionnaire detailing their measurements for hats, headgear, uniforms and shoes. In a copy of the questionnaire provided to CNN, the top of the form is written in Russian, while the different size options are written in Korean.

Another video circulated on social media, the location of which was confirmed by CNN, showed troops arriving at the Sergeevka training facility, near Russia’s border with China. In the video, a Russian speaker can be heard saying in the background “We are not allowed to take pictures of them”, adding: “There are more… there are millions of them here. Here are the fresh reinforcements. This is just the beginning. There is more.”

The new documents confirm Kiev’s fears about the continuation of the war and Pyongyang’s intention to play a more active role on Russia’s side in the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky repeatedly warned of the tightening alliance between Russia and North Korea, saying at the NATO summit this week that “thousands of North Korean soldiers are on their way to Russia.”

“From intelligence in my possession… they are preparing 10,000 soldiers, ground forces, technical staff members,” Zelensky told reporters, and claimed that this was a “demoralizing reduction,” which he brought up to the American top brass during his visit to the country.

South Korean media previously reported that Kim Jong Un would send a total of 12,000 troops, although this number was not included in the National Intelligence Service statement.

This may be the first time that North Korea has significantly intervened in an international conflict. North Korea has one of the largest armies in the world with 1.2 million soldiers, but many of its soldiers lack combat experience.

Many governments have accused Pyongyang of supplying arms to Moscow for its ongoing war in Ukraine, a charge both countries have denied, despite substantial evidence of such transfers. The two countries, both ostracized among the Western countries, have formed a relationship that has been getting tighter since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

During Putin’s visit to the North Korean capital in June, the two countries pledged to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event the other is attacked, as part of a groundbreaking defense agreement signed between the autocratic states. Putin said during that visit that the two countries are raising their ties to a “new level”.

In the words he delivered before the talks between the two, the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his “full support and solidarity with the struggles of the Russian government, army and people”, while specifically pointing to Moscow’s war in Ukraine “to protect its sovereignty, security and territorial stability”.