SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) – North Korea is reportedly preparing to deploy more troops and military equipment to Russia in support of its ongoing war against Ukraine, according to South Korea’s military. This assessment follows intelligence indicating that North Korea has already sent thousands of soldiers, with casualties estimated at around 1,100.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) noted that North Korea is likely to rotate or increase troop deployments while supplying heavy artillery, including 240 mm rocket launchers and 170 mm self-propelled guns. Additionally, there are indications that North Korea is moving towards the production of suicide drones, which were first showcased during a recent inspection by Kim Jong-un.
State media previously reported Kim’s push for full-scale production of these drones, reflecting their rising significance in modern warfare. Although the JCS has not detected any immediate provocations from the North, they caution that the country may stage surprise military actions around its upcoming year-end party meeting.
Looking ahead, the JCS anticipates that North Korea will continue “gray zone” provocations, such as launching balloons and conducting GPS jamming. As North Korea focuses on supporting Russia, it may refrain from escalating military tensions that could open new fronts but could still pursue provocative actions to strengthen its bargaining position against the U.S.
