North Korean troops advance toward Russian-Ukrainian front, but not Kim Jong Un’s elite forces – WSJ

North Korean troops are moving towards the front line between Russia and Ukraine, but according to military analysts, they are not considered to be the top units of Kim Jong Un's army.

The Wall Street Journal reported that.

Intelligence and video footage indicate that many soldiers are teenagers and young adults likely to be in the early stages of their service.

These soldiers seem relatively short and thin, suggesting a malnutrition issue in North Korea.

The soldiers were trained in the conditions of the mountains of South Korea, focusing on the task of special forces, which is not quite suitable for military operations in the plain territories of Ukraine.

The equipment is outdated, and the soldiers may never have left the country. South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun called them "mere cannon fodder mercenaries."

According to estimates by the United States, South Korea, and Ukraine, about 3,000 North Korean soldiers arrived in Russia this month. Some have already been seen in the Kursk region, which is not far from the border with Ukraine.

James JB Park, a former South Korean defense and national-security official, said Kim Jong Un may want to gauge internal reaction to the move and the Kremlin's by first sending those deemed relatively expendable.

It is still unclear what role North Korean troops will play in the war. They can monitor the use of drones and collect data if Russia uses North Korean munitions.

The US and NATO believe that a direct combat role for North Korea would be a major escalation of the conflict. Analyst Samuel Cranny-Evans says the initial deployment in Kursk can be positioned as a defensive measure.

In North Korea, the political consequences of possible losses at the front will be limited by the isolation of the families of military personnel, according to South Korean intelligence.

By December, North Korea can send up to 10,000 soldiers. Although Kim Jong-un often calls his armed forces "the strongest in the world," the country has not been involved in a major conflict since the 1950-1953 Korean War.

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It should be noted that South Korean intelligence confirmed that Pyongyang has decided to send 12,000 troops to support the Russian Federation in the war against Ukraine. The first 1,500 special forces from the DPRK have already arrived at the training center at the Sergeev training ground of the Russian Far East.

Previously, Kyrylo Budanov, the intelligence chief of Ukraine, stated to the media that approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers would be prepared to engage in combat in Ukraine by November 1, 2024.

On October 22, the head of Ukrainian intelligence announced that the first North Korean soldiers would soon arrive in Russia's Kursk region. They will help the Russian army.

In his turn, President Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine has intelligence regarding Russia's training of two North Korean military units, potentially forming two brigades consisting of 6,000 individuals each.

The US Department of Defense has evidence that North Korean soldiers are currently present in the Russian Federation. However, their exact activities remain unknown and will require further investigation.

In addition, for the first time, Putin made a statement about North Korean troops in the Russian Federation. He said that Russia and North Korea could "provide mutual aid in the event of aggression" to each other, as the State Duma ratified the "comprehensive strategic partnership" agreement with North Korea.