North Korea may deploy up to 100,000 troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, fuelling concerns over a potentially dramatic escalation in the conflict, according to reports from assessments by some G20 nations.
The deepening alliance between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has prompted speculation about such a military deployment.
Analysts suggest that if it were to occur, the troops would likely be sent in smaller, rotating groups rather than as a single wave.
Kyiv’s allies have expressed alarm at the prospect, warning it could further destabilise Europe’s largest conflict since the Second World War.
Earlier this month, Ukraine’s ambassador to South Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, told VOA that Kyiv anticipated as many as 15,000 North Korean soldiers might be sent to Russia’s Kursk region and occupied parts of eastern Ukraine.
Mr Ponomarenko indicated they would rotate approximately every few months.
While South Korea’s Defence Ministry and Presidential Office have not commented, Western diplomats and leaders have criticised the potential move.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reportedly plans to raise the issue during meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Brazil.
Scholz also warned Putin during a rare phone call that involving North Korean forces would be a “grave escalation.”
The alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow is seen as having wider implications beyond Ukraine.
Analysts believe it could shift the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly amid rising tensions between the US and China.
North Korea’s alliance with Russia has grown significantly in recent months, driven by mutual interests amid global condemnation of their respective actions.
Kim regime has reportedly provided munitions and artillery shells to bolster Vladimir Putin’s military efforts in Ukraine, defying international sanctions and drawing criticism from Western nations.
In return, Moscow has offered support for Pyongyang, including the potential supply of advanced technology and humanitarian aid, deepening ties between the two isolated regimes.
This cooperation was symbolised by Kim’s visit to Russia’s Far East in September 2023, where discussions with Putin hinted at strategic partnerships in defence and technology, fuelling concerns of a destabilising alliance with far-reaching consequences.