Rumors of North Korean Battalion in Ukraine Deployed by Kremlin Raise Concerns

amsterdam - Rumors are getting stronger about the deployment of a North Korean battalion in Ukraine by the Kremlin. The Ukrainian President and the US express concerns over the alleged involvement of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russians in Ukraine.

Rumors are swirling around the potential deployment of a North Korean battalion in Ukraine, allegedly orchestrated by the Kremlin. According to sources in the Ukrainian intelligence services, a battalion of three thousand North Korean soldiers is reportedly prepared to join the Russians. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has voiced his unease, referring to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un as a 'coalition of criminals' during his address to the parliament in Kiev. The US also shares concerns, perceiving this as a deepening of ties between Russia and North Korea, possibly out of desperation on Russia's part.

It is reported that the battalion has been secretly trained in the far east of Russia to later be utilized as part of a Russian airborne regiment. A high-ranking official of the Ukrainian military disclosed to the news site Politico that the unit is referred to as the 'Buryat Battalion,' named after the Russian region of Buryatia bordering Mongolia.

The Kyiv Independent, citing sources in Western intelligence services, even suggests that ten thousand North Korean soldiers are on the verge of joining forces with the Russians. Allegedly, a deal was brokered between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un during the latter's visit to Russia last year, expanding their collaboration beyond the previously known North Korean arms supplies to Russia.

Ironically, the speculated North Korean involvement came in the aftermath of the Ukrainian assault on the Russian region of Kursk, providing Moscow with a pretext to justify the deployment of North Korean troops based on a mutual defense treaty between Russia and North Korea.

Prior speculations had circulated regarding North Korean engagement in Ukraine, with South Korean intelligence suggesting North Korean technicians were operating behind Russian lines to launch missiles. Reports of six North Korean military casualties in Donetsk due to a Ukrainian bombing further fueled the rumors. Russian military bloggers even claimed that eighteen North Koreans had defected. South Korean Defense Minister Kim Jong-hyun previously hinted at the likely presence of North Korean officers in Ukraine.

Military analysts anticipate that while the quality of North Korean troops is presumed to be low, their sheer numbers could bolster the Kremlin's forces significantly. With approximately 1.3 million individuals in the North Korean army, Putin could potentially access a vast pool of manpower to replenish the depleted ranks.

Former British military attaché in Moscow, John Foreman, views the employment of North Korean troops as a critical component of the Kremlin's strategy to secure victory in the conflict, dubbing it as a 'new source of cannon fodder.' On the contrary, other analysts question the feasibility of integrating large numbers of North Korean soldiers into the Russian army, citing logistical challenges.

There are doubts about the immediate appearance of North Korean troops on the front lines, with some experts suggesting they might be deployed to guard parts of the Russo-Ukrainian border instead, thereby freeing up Russian troops for other missions.

In response to the mounting speculations, Moscow categorically denied the deployment of North Korean troops, labeling the reports as 'fake news.' The Kremlin also continues to deny previous allegations of North Korean arms deliveries.