North Korea has supplied Russia with 200 long-range artillery pieces and could send even more troops and weapons to aid Moscow’s war in Ukraine, South Korea’s defense ministry warned on February 11.
The development was reported by to Yonhap News Agency.
The report follows earlier assessments by South Korea’s intelligence agency, which estimated that Pyongyang has already deployed 11,000 troops to Russia, with 300 killed and 2,700 wounded so far.
During a briefing to the parliamentary defense committee, South Korea’s defense ministry stated that North Korea had provided missiles, artillery, and a substantial amount of ammunition. Officials also warned that more troops, weapons, and supplies could be sent in the future.
South Korean officials believe that Russia may be offering North Korea advanced military technology in return for its support. Possible exchanges could include assistance with nuclear-powered submarines and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology, particularly atmospheric re-entry systems, which North Korea has struggled to develop.
North Korea is also expected to accelerate weapons development in 2025, the final year of its five-year military expansion plan. Key projects include nuclear submarines, spy satellites, and solid-fuel ICBMs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently reported that 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in battles on the Kursk front, out of the 12,000 deployed. These figures suggest that North Korea is taking heavy losses while actively contributing to Russia’s war effort.
