Category: Russia

Via a reader tip comes this news of a North Korean friendly fire incident in Ukraine. It is coming from Ukrainian intelligence so the usual caveats apply in regards to how true this story is:

Russian paramilitary soldiers were accidentally targeted and killed by North Korean troops in a recent bout of friendly fire, according to Ukrainian officials.

In a statement published on Saturday, the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) detailed how Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) soldiers have recently assisted Russian troops in the Kursk Oblast, which is currently occupied by Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian officials estimate that around 11,000 DPRK personnel are stationed in Russia.

“The aggressor state of Russia has begun to use DPRK soldiers in assault operations in the Kursk region, in particular, as part of the combined units of the marines and airborne troops of the Russian Armed Forces,” the statement read. 

Fox News

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What is Russia going to do, fund the North Korean regime and assist them with their missile programs? They are already doing this:

 Russia’s foreign ministry warned Wednesday that South Korea could face “security consequences” if it gets involved in the war in Ukraine, as Seoul has vowed to take “phased” measures in response to growing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.

Maria Zakharova, the ministry’s spokesperson, issued the warning as Seoul announced its plan Tuesday to take the measures following its spy agency’s confirmation that Pyongyang plans to dispatch around 10,000 soldiers to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, including some 1,500 troops that it has already sent.

“They should think about the security consequences if it gets involved in the Ukrainian crisis,” she said during a press briefing through an English-language interpreter. “The Russian Federation will react on those aggressive steps, if our citizens are under threats, under peril.”

Yonhap

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It looks like the North Korean cannon fodder for Putin’s war in Ukraine may be more than originally believed:

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that North Korea is preparing to send around 10,000 soldiers to Russia to support its war against Ukraine, calling the development “a big problem.”

Zelenskyy cited Ukrainian intelligence reports indicating that North Korean personnel have already been deployed in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, with additional troops being prepared to join the fight. 

“We know about 10,000 soldiers of North Korea that they are preparing to send to fight against us,” Zelenskyy said during a press conference in Brussels after the European Union summit. “That’s really, I think, a big problem.”

Zelenskyy suggested that Russia is relying on North Korean forces to compensate for its substantial troop losses, as many young Russians seek to avoid conscription. 

“(Russian President Vladimir) Putin is afraid of mobilization very much because social opinion is against his,” he said. “That’s why he (Putin) is trying to involve other participants of this war.”

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

It looks like North Koreans are getting closer to becoming cannon fodder in Putin’s war in Ukraine:

The defense ministry said Wednesday it is “closely” monitoring for signs of North Korea possibly sending troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine, following media reports of Russia forming a battalion of North Koreans.

Ukrainian media outlets earlier reported that Russia is organizing a special battalion that is expected to include up to 3,000 North Koreans due to manpower shortages amid concerns over deepening military cooperation between the two countries.

“As there is a possibility of (North Korea) providing troops or civilian personnel, this is being closely monitored,” a ministry official said when asked about the reports.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

It looks like Putin has found some more cannon fodder for his war in Ukraine:

Six North Korean officers were killed in a Ukrainian missile strike on their position along the Russian frontline of the occupied Donetsk region, according to Ukrainian news reports on Friday.   
  
Ukrainian military intelligence officials who were quoted anonymously by the Kyiv Post and Interfax-Ukraine said over 20 military personnel, including the North Korean officers, were killed in the strike. 
  
Russian military bloggers reported earlier in the day that North Korean military officers were visiting the frontline to see how Russian forces set up defensive positions and were “preparing for assault operations” before the Ukrainian missile struck. 
  
According to the Russian Telegram channel Kremlin Snuffbox, three North Korean officers were also injured in the strike and were sent to Moscow to be treated.

Joong Ang Ilbo

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Goats may be one of the few things that Russia sends to North Korea that doesn’t violate UN sanctions, not that they care about UN sanctions in the first place:

 Russia’s agriculture safety watchdog has approved the shipment of 447 goats to North Korea after reviewing related veterinary and sanitary conditions, according to its website, amid deepening cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.

After veterinary inspection, 432 female and 15 male goats were sent to a North Korean trading company in the first batch of exports of live animals to the North, according to a statement posted on the website of Russia’s Rosselkhoznadzor on Friday.

The shipment was intended to be delivered from Russia’s Leningrad region to North Korea’s border city of Rason, it said.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

This is about as close to an ultimatum to Russia that you will see from the Yoon administration:

National security adviser Chang Ho-jin said Sunday that South Korea will not be bound by anything with regard to its assistance to Ukraine if Russia provides North Korea with precision weapons.

Director of National Security Chang made the remark during a TV appearance, underscoring the point that Seoul’s decision on whether to provide weapons to Ukraine depends on how Russia’s military cooperation with North Korea goes. 

“I would like to emphasize that it all depends on what Russia will do,” Chang said on KBS TV. “Will there be any line remaining for us if Russia gives precision weapons to North Korea?”

Chang’s remark means South Korea could provide lethal weapons to Ukraine if Russia crosses the line.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

I feel bad for SSG Black’s family, but as the saying goes play stupid games, win stupid prizes and he got quite the prize:

A court in Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok on Wednesday convicted a visiting American soldier of stealing and making threats of murder, and it sentenced him to three years and nine months in prison. Staff Sgt. Gordon Black, 34, flew to the Pacific port city to see his girlfriend and was arrested last month after she accused him of stealing from her, according to U.S. officials and Russian authorities.

Russia’s state news agencies Tass and RIA Novosti reported that the judge in Pervomaisky District Court in Vladivostok also ordered Black to pay 10,000 rubles ($115) in damages. Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of four years and eight months in prison.

Stars & Stripes

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It looks like Putin and Kim are now BFF’s:

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty calling for mutual assistance if either is attacked Wednesday as they held summit talks in Pyongyang.

Putin also said Russia does not rule out military and technical cooperation with North Korea in line with the partnership treaty, fueling concern the two countries could further deepen their already serious military cooperation, including in Russia’s war in Ukraine.

“The treaty on comprehensive partnership signed today provides for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this treaty,” Putin said after summit talks with Kim, according to Russia’s TASS news agency.

Putin hailed the treaty as a “truly groundbreaking document” that “reflects the desire of the two countries not to rest on their laurels, but to bring our relations to a new qualitative level,” according to TASS. (……)

Kim declared that the North’s relations Russia have been upgraded to the level of alliance. (….)

Kim expressed “full support” Wednesday for Russia’s war in Ukraine and pledged to strengthen strategic cooperation, according to TASS.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.