Link to article: https://apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-ukraine-video-d84e70171378f30b5dabd0cbe27a5cec
North Korean recruits line up to be given Russian military gear in a video released by Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security. They state that this is clear evidence of North Korean troops being sent to aid Russia. Associated Press could not verify the video, claiming they got this information from sources, that if additional verification were to be released, it could put them in a potentially risky position. This is the first video evidence that North Korea is sending infantrymen rather than just weapons. Earlier, Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, suspected that around 11,000 North Korean soldiers were training in Russia. He assumes they will be added to combat in the next month which makes some Ukrainian officials reiterate their need for more weapons to face their growing enemy. Ukraine hopes this is a cue for more countries to provide additional aid and support.
North Korea for some time now has shown support for Russia and has been sending weapons to help Russia in the war against Ukraine. Now with North Korea sending troops, this shows a higher level of aid they are willing to supply and the deepening military cooperation between the two nations. The increased cooperation between the two is likely because of international sanctions and disapproval from Russia invading Ukraine to North Korea and their aggressiveness in their region. Clearly these troops are advantageous for Russia, so what could North Korea be getting out of this exchange besides the partnership? Russia could be exchanging resources like oil that it probably has more of due to western sanctions. Additionally, these soldiers could display Russia’s increasing need for support against Ukraine now that they see Ukraine (especially with their western help) is stronger than they expected.
Russia and North Korea could deny this advancement to avoid the critical global stage that may inflict more punishments or show the global community that they are two strong forces allied together ready to go against opposition. Most notably, Ukraine will likely use this as a call for increased military and economic aid to fight off Russia. They could (or already are doing so) make the issue seem much more alarming then it is to really push for further support. The U.S., perhaps depending on the upcoming election, will or will not answer Ukraine’s calls for more aid.