North Korea has sent at least another 3,000 soldiers to Russia, reaffirming its support for Moscow in the war against Ukraine. This was reported by the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, quoted by CNN, while Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko confirmed – according to Tass – that a visit to Russia by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is being prepared. At the same time, ”the possibility of a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to Pyongyang is being considered to continue the strategic dialogue with our North Korean friends,” Rudenko added, according to Tass.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Pyongyang has sent about 11,000 troops in support of Moscow, suffering in combat at least 4,000 dead and wounded. In addition to soldiers, North Korea has supplied Russia with a large quantity of short-range ballistic missiles, about 220 170 mm self-propelled howitzers and 240 240 mm multiple rocket launchers. The South Korean government has warned that Pyongyang’s military aid to Moscow could increase depending on the course of the conflict.
Talks between Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia have led to an agreement to stop attacks in the Black Sea and on energy infrastructure, but Moscow has set stringent conditions for a broader agreement, calling for the lifting of sanctions on its banking and energy sectors. Meanwhile, relations between Kim and Vladimir Putin have consolidated following the defence pact signed in 2023, which provides for immediate military assistance in the event of an attack on either nation.
The United States fears that Russia could transfer advanced space and satellite technology to North Korea, as well as training and weapons. US sources claim that North Korea has sent large quantities of ammunition to Russia, and Moscow’s forces have notoriously already used North Korean missiles in Ukraine. Pyongyang has treated hundreds of wounded Russian soldiers, while Moscow has provided Kim with coal, food and medicine. The two countries are also strengthening cooperation on education, with exchange programmes for students and trips for the children of Russian soldiers killed in the war.
North Korea is continuing to test new AI-powered attack drones, and has unveiled a reconnaissance drone that could contain Russian technology. Drone attacks have become a key weapon in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, and Moscow has exponentially increased their use. Despite ongoing discussions on a possible truce, fighting continues: on Wednesday night, a Russian drone attack on Kharkiv injured at least nine people. “No country should have to go through all this,” commented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukraine and Russia have not hit each other’s energy facilities since Tuesday, March 25, the day the White House, the Kremlin and the Kiev government released agreements reached in talks in Saudi Arabia. A senior Ukrainian official told AFP.
“Since March 25, we have not seen any direct attacks by Russia on the energy sector, so we have not hit them,” the official said.
”Russia is categorically opposed” to the deployment of peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, ”a kind of peacekeeping mission that masks the plans of London and Paris for their military intervention”. This was stated by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
Russian and American experts ”are now discussing a new Black Sea agreement. I can also say that consultations between experts from the Russian and US delegations will continue,” Zakharova added at a press conference.
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Source: American Military News
