North Korea Expands Military Ties with Russia Amid Drone Showcase

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has unveiled new military drones and sent 3,000 additional troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. Reports indicate a growing military cooperation between the two nations, raising concerns regarding technology transfers and military dependency. This partnership has led to improved performance of North Korean troops in combat, prompting anxieties in neighboring South Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recently displayed new military drones while reports suggest he has dispatched an additional 3,000 troops to assist Russia in its ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Images released by Pyongyang on March 27 show Kim overseeing tests of these reconnaissance and attack drones at an undisclosed location. There are growing international concerns that Russia may be supplying North Korea with drone technology in exchange for considerable military assistance.

On the same day, the Yonhap news agency in South Korea reported with reference to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in Seoul that approximately 3,000 North Korean troops had been sent to Russia in January and February. This new troop deployment comes after an earlier sending of 11,000 North Korean soldiers who were involved in combat operations in Russia’s Kursk region. Ukrainian analyst Oleh Saakyan stated, “We can say that Russia is already becoming dependent on North Korea in many ways, not only in terms of shells but also in terms of other weapons… as well as in terms of soldiers,” highlighting the shift in military support dynamics.

The deployment of additional North Korean troops was initially reported in late February, although specifics regarding the troop numbers remained undisclosed. These developments coincide with Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko announcing plans for Kim to visit Moscow later in the year. Kim previously traveled to Russia by armored train for meetings with President Vladimir Putin in both 2019 and 2023, indicating a continuing warming in relations since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

In addition to troop deployments, North Korea has supplied short-range missiles, self-propelled howitzers, and rocket launchers to Russia. Saakyan remarked, “In reality, the state of the Russian economy and Russia’s mobilization needs are becoming more and more difficult to meet, just like in Ukraine,” emphasizing the escalating reliance on North Korean military resources. The JCS has also indicated that the new troop deployments included additional military equipment and ammunition amidst ongoing demands from Russia for Western nations to cease military aid to Ukraine in exchange for a partial cease-fire.

Kim has asserted that North Korea will continue to support Russia as part of a “comprehensive strategic partnership.” Initial deployments of North Korean troops to Russia were met with significant challenges, including heavy casualties due to inadequate ability to withstand attacks from Ukrainian drones. Reports indicated that North Korean troops had been rotated away from the front line due to substantial losses. However, recent performance has reportedly improved, with North Korean forces assisting in pushing back Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, raising concerns in South Korea about the operational experience gained by Kim’s forces and potential technology transfers from Russia.

North Korean state media announced on March 27 that Kim was pleased with the new drones and plans were made to enhance production, with a focus on drones and artificial intelligence technologies. South Korean military spokesman Lee Sung Joon noted that a drone exhibited could feature components sourced from Russia but suggested that Pyongyang may be exaggerating its capabilities: “It looks quite cumbersome and we assess that it’s likely vulnerable to interception.”

In summary, the recent developments surrounding North Korea and its military cooperation with Russia underscore an evolving geopolitical landscape. Kim Jong Un has showcased new drones while also reportedly sending additional troops to Ukraine, marking a significant expansion of North Korean military involvement. The evolving relationship between North Korea and Russia raises concerns regarding military dependency, potential technology transfers, and the implications for regional security, particularly for South Korea and Ukraine.

Original Source: www.rferl.org