North Korea has reportedly deployed an additional 3,000 troops to Russia and is preparing for Kim Jong-un’s visit to Moscow. The joint military and economic cooperation between North Korea and Russia is expanding, despite North Korean casualties in Ukraine. Furthermore, North Korea aims to enhance its military technology, including satellite capabilities, amid efforts to distance itself from South Korea.
Recent reports indicate that North Korea has organized the deployment of an additional 3,000 troops to Russia, as preparations are underway for leader Kim Jong-un’s expected visit to Moscow later this year. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko confirmed that arrangements are being made for both Kim’s visit and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s visit to Pyongyang, as cited by the state-run news agency Tass.
If the visit proceeds as planned, it will be Kim’s first engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin since their June summit in Pyongyang where they signed a significant defense agreement. Since that meeting, military and economic collaborations between North Korea and Russia have intensified.
In the first two months of this year, South Korea’s military reported that North Korea dispatched at least 3,000 more soldiers to assist Russia amidst its ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where the North has already lost approximately 4,000 of the previously deployed 11,000 troops. The South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff noted that the situation reflects the North’s sustained military involvement despite casualties.
North Korea has extensively aided Moscow, supplying a significant quantity of conventional arms, including short-range ballistic missiles and various artillery systems. This military support appears to be contingent on the current geopolitical climate, as per insights from the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Moreover, North Korea aims to advance its military reconnaissance capabilities, preparing for another attempt at launching a satellite into orbit, following a failed attempt in May last year. While no immediate launch appears to be on the horizon, the North is reportedly improving its rocket technology, which is being closely monitored by South Korean military authorities.
In addition to military maneuvers, North Korea has dismantled 11 transmission towers within the Demilitarized Zone, a move interpreted as a strategy to sever connections with South Korea. Past incidents have raised concerns about this approach, notably a recent mine explosion that resulted in north Korean casualties.
The North has reduced its winter military exercises to allocate troops for construction projects and potential furthers deployments to Russia while also addressing persistent energy shortages. This report emerges amidst rising apprehensions about North Korea’s expanding nuclear arsenal, closely tied to its partnership with Russia, as the U.S. explores the possibility of renewed diplomatic engagement with the regime.
North Korea’s ongoing military support for Russia, including the recent deployment of additional troops, underscores the deepening ties between the two nations. The preparations for Kim Jong-un’s visits indicate a potential strengthening of defense and economic cooperation. Meanwhile, the North’s dismantling of border infrastructure reflects a strategic effort to sever connections with South Korea, exacerbating regional tensions as it continues to develop its military capabilities. As the international community monitors these developments, North Korea’s focus on bolstering its bargaining power appears to be increasing in anticipation of future diplomatic engagements with the United States.
Original Source: asianews.network
