Politics · Singapore Bureau
North Korea readies more troops for Russia deployment, Seoul says
South Korea's Defence Ministry has identified ongoing preparations by North Korea for additional troop deployments to Russia, though no immediate timeline for such a move has been detected, according to a South Korean lawmaker.
LSN Singapore ·
Seoul has observed North Korea making preparations to send more soldiers to support Russia's military operations, but intelligence assessments suggest such a deployment is not imminent, a South Korean parliamentary official said on Saturday.
The Defence Ministry's assessment comes as international concerns mount over deepening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. The observation of preparatory measures indicates North Korea's commitment to expanding its military assistance to Russia, though the timing of any actual troop movement remains unclear.
South Korea has been closely monitoring military cooperation between the two countries, which has drawn criticism from Western nations and concern from regional allies including Japan and the United States. The level of coordination between North Korean and Russian military planners has increased significantly in recent months.
The Defence Ministry did not provide specifics on the scale or nature of preparations being undertaken, citing operational security considerations. Officials have said continued surveillance of North Korean military movements would provide advance warning should a deployment be imminent.