In a shadowy development that could reshape the dynamics of Russia’s war against Ukraine, North Korea has emerged as a clandestine ally for Moscow. According to South Korean intelligence reports, the hermit kingdom has not only dispatched 1,500 members of its special forces to Russia’s far east but also supplied a staggering 8 million rounds of ammunition since last August. As the conflict enters a critical phase, this covert alliance threatens to tip the scales in favor of the Kremlin’s offensive.
Elite Troops and Massive Munitions
The deployment of North Korean special forces marks an unprecedented move for Pyongyang, which has never before sent such a large contingent of troops abroad. These battle-hardened soldiers, part of what could eventually be a 12,000-strong force, are expected to bolster Russian frontline tactics that have been notoriously careless with human lives. From supporting logistics and engineering to freeing up Russian troops for combat, their presence could have far-reaching implications on the ground.
Yet it is the sheer scale of North Korea’s arms shipments that may prove even more significant. According to the South Korean National Intelligence Service, Pyongyang has transported a staggering 70 shipments of munitions to Russia since August 2022, including the 152mm and 122mm shells crucial for Moscow’s destructive assaults. At a time when the West is grappling with its own munitions shortages, this influx could help sustain Russia’s relentless offensive.
The Axis of Upheaval
Beyond the immediate battlefield implications, North Korea’s involvement underscores the deepening ties within the so-called “Axis of Upheaval” – the Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea grouping that seeks to challenge Western military hegemony. As one analyst noted, Russia has offered Pyongyang unprecedented political support and potentially access to advanced missile and submarine technology, emboldening the reclusive regime.
Russia has offered the kind of political support to Pyongyang that previously was seen only in Beijing, and emboldens the North [of Korea]. It may also be providing missile technology and possibly submarine technology.
– Richard Fontaine, Center for a New American Security
A Stark Warning from Zelenskyy
The revelations have prompted a stark warning from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who declared in his nightly address that “another state is joining the war against Ukraine.” With the U.S. election casting doubt on future military aid and Europe struggling to ramp up its own munitions production, Kyiv faces an intensifying challenge as the conflict threatens to expand across Asia.
A Shadowy Alliance with Global Repercussions
As the war grinds on, North Korea’s covert intervention alongside Russia could have far-reaching consequences beyond the battlefields of Ukraine. It not only cements an alliance of convenience between two of the world’s most isolated and unpredictable regimes but also risks drawing other powers into an ever-widening conflict. With the West scrambling to respond and Ukraine bracing for a long fight ahead, the shadowy hand of Pyongyang has added a volatile new dimension to an already-catastrophic war.
A Stark Warning from Zelenskyy
The revelations have prompted a stark warning from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who declared in his nightly address that “another state is joining the war against Ukraine.” With the U.S. election casting doubt on future military aid and Europe struggling to ramp up its own munitions production, Kyiv faces an intensifying challenge as the conflict threatens to expand across Asia.
A Shadowy Alliance with Global Repercussions
As the war grinds on, North Korea’s covert intervention alongside Russia could have far-reaching consequences beyond the battlefields of Ukraine. It not only cements an alliance of convenience between two of the world’s most isolated and unpredictable regimes but also risks drawing other powers into an ever-widening conflict. With the West scrambling to respond and Ukraine bracing for a long fight ahead, the shadowy hand of Pyongyang has added a volatile new dimension to an already-catastrophic war.
