About 10,000 North Korean troops currently deployed near russian-Ukrainian border

There are currently about 10,000 North Korean troops on the russian-Ukrainian border. In addition, since September, the DPRK has sent about 5,000 construction workers to the aggressor state of russia to help with “infrastructure restoration.”

This was announced by South Korean lawmaker Lee Song-kwon after a briefing by the country’s national intelligence service, Euractiv reports.

Thus, Lee told reporters that “about 5,000 North Korean construction troops have been gradually moving to russia since September and are expected to be mobilized to restore infrastructure.”

He added that “constant signs of training and selection of personnel in preparation for additional troop deployment have been detected.”

Intelligence officials also told lawmakers that an estimated 10,000 North Korean troops are currently deployed near the russian-Ukrainian border. South Korea estimates that at least 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed in the war in Ukraine and thousands more have been wounded.

Analysts say North Korea receives financial aid, military technology, food and energy from russia in exchange for sending troops, allowing Pyongyang to circumvent tough international sanctions imposed over its nuclear and missile programs, which were once a key trump card for the United States.

Last week, North Korea did not respond to an offer from US President Donald Trump to meet with Kim, and instead the North Korean foreign minister traveled to Moscow, where he and the russian dictator agreed to strengthen bilateral ties.

At the same time, Lee said that Seoul’s intelligence believes that Kim is open to talks with Washington “and will seek contact when the conditions are right.”

In addition, an international sanctions monitoring group said in its report last month that North Korea plans to send “40,000 workers, including several delegations of IT specialists,” to russia. According to UN sanctions, North Korean workers are prohibited from earning money abroad.

As a reminder, a memorial dedicated to the servicemen of the DPRK army who died in foreign military operations, including in the war against Ukraine, will be built in North Korea.

Meanwhile, it became known that the command of the russian occupation army is involving units of North Korean troops to support operations in the Sumy Region, in particular, North Korean UAV operators are correcting russian strikes.