On October 8, 2024, South Korea's Defense Minister, Kim Yong-kyun, stated in a parliamentary hearing that North Korea is likely sending soldiers to Ukraine to assist Russian forces, with reports indicating that some have already been killed in action. This revelation comes after Ukrainian media reported the deaths of six North Korean officers in a missile strike near Donetsk on October 3.
Kim emphasized the high probability of North Korean casualties in Ukraine, suggesting that more soldiers are expected to be deployed to support Russia's military operations. This development follows a military cooperation agreement signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June, where both nations pledged mutual support in the event of third-party attacks.
Foreign fighters are present in both the Ukrainian and Russian militaries, and previous reports have indicated that North Korean missiles may have been deployed in Ukraine, although both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied these claims. Additionally, South Korea has accused North Korea of supplying thousands of containers of weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine.
Experts warn that North Korea's increasing military ties with Moscow and its recent tests and production of artillery and cruise missiles may indicate preparations to send these weapons to Russia. Professor Lim Eul-chul from Kyungnam University noted that North Korea's provision of ammunition and missiles to Russia is a logical step towards sending troops, as it allows North Korean soldiers to gain diverse experiences and practical training.
The key question remains what North Korea hopes to gain in return from Russia. Despite UN sanctions prohibiting North Korea from acquiring ballistic missile technology, Moscow's veto at the UN Security Council in March effectively ended oversight of violations, a move for which Pyongyang expressed gratitude. Meanwhile, North Korea is currently holding a Supreme People's Assembly meeting, with speculation that it may abolish the landmark 1991 North-South Basic Agreement, which characterized inter-Korean relations as a 'special relationship formed temporarily in the process of unification.'