As part of its recently signed mutual aid pact with Russia, North Korea is planning to send forces into in Ukraine as early as next month, according to Reuters.
The agreement calls for Pyongyang to send construction and engineering forces to Russia-occupied territories of Ukraine for rebuilding work. The outlet cited a South Korean government official quoted by the South Korean TV Chosun cable network. There was no indication of how many personnel would be involved or the exact nature of their work.
Regardless of what they do or where they go, those forces would be “cannon fodder,” the Pentagon’s top spokesman said Tuesday.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder was responding to a question about the Russia-North Korea agreement.
Ryder said North Korea should think twice about fighting in Ukraine.
“That’s certainly something to keep an eye on,” he told reporters on Tuesday about the potential for North Korean troops to set foot in Ukraine. “I think that if I were North Korean military personnel management, I would be questioning my choices on sending my forces to be cannon fodder in an illegal war against Ukraine. And we’ve seen the kinds of casualties that Russian forces – but again, something that we’ll keep an eye on.”
North Korea has already been providing artillery shells and missiles to Russia. There are growing concerns that Russian expertise might be used to help with the further development of Pyongyang’s ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons — as well as other weapons and technologies. Even just sending large numbers of laborers to setup fortifications and rebuild critical military infrastructure in occupied areas would be a problem for Ukraine.
The possibility of North Korean despot Kim Jong-un sending personnel to Ukraine on Russia’s behalf is something we previously explored almost a year ago.
Last August, a Russian talk show host claimed that 100,000 North Korean “volunteers” were ready to assist Russia in Ukraine.
Russia Channel One talk show host Igor Korotchenko suggested Russia welcome the North Koreans’ help not only on the frontlines but also as workers. Pyongyang confirmed a plan to send laborers to rebuild occupied Ukraine, according to a report from NK News at the time.
Clearly, that has yet to transpire. However, as the war in Ukraine drags on, relations between Moscow and Pyongyang continue to grow amid mutual need by both nations. Whether North Korean forces actually do arrive in Ukraine remains to be seen, but the threat that they will is exacerbating tensions on two continents.⍐
Note: THE WAR ZONE 'Ukraine Situation Report' Edited by ENB
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