Recent reports indicate that both Ukraine and South Korea have received intelligence suggesting North Korea has dispatched troops to assist Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. A pro-Russian Telegram account shared a photograph claiming to capture the flags of Russia and North Korea flying side by side near a mining site in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
According to a report from South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, a blogger operating under the Telegram handle @rvvoenkor_bot posted images on October 21 showing the Russian and North Korean flags hoisted near a mining location in Donetsk, which might serve as an outpost for North Korean soldiers.
Last week, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service revealed that North Korea has decided to send 12,000 soldiers to support Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine. Approximately 1,500 of these soldiers, specifically special forces, have reportedly been deployed to Russia’s Far East. A South Korean government insider noted on October 22 that Seoul is contemplating sending personnel to Ukraine to monitor the activities of North Korean forces stationed there.
In response, North Korea’s permanent representative to the United Nations dismissed claims about the deployment of troops to aid Russia as baseless rumors that undermine legitimate friendly relations between sovereign nations and tarnish North Korea’s image.
Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia asserted that Ukraine is facing clear failures on the battlefield and is attempting to drag NATO into a direct confrontation with Russia.
Amid these developments, the South Korean government is reportedly considering dispatching personnel to Ukraine to observe the tactics and operational capabilities of the North Korean special forces deployed there. If such a mission proceeds, it is anticipated that team members will include military personnel from intelligence sectors, capable of analyzing North Korean tactics or participating in the interrogation of captured North Korean individuals.
Additionally, the South Korean government is evaluating the possibility of providing weapon support to Ukraine, with a potential shift towards indirect lethal assistance. Sources have indicated that while they will monitor signs of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, any responses will be gradually implemented, focusing initially on defensive rather than lethal weapons, even if lethal support is provided, it would primarily be considered in an indirect manner.
