South Korean intelligence has revealed new details regarding North Korea’s recent military support to Russia, indicating that some North Korean troops, accompanied by high-ranking generals, may be moving toward the frontline near Ukraine.
Language Barriers
This comes as approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers were reported to have arrived in eastern Russia by train, signaling a significant development in the military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.
According to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), language barriers have emerged as a primary challenge for these North Korean troops.
Russian military personnel have reportedly trained North Korean soldiers in about 100 basic commands in Russian, including terms like "fall back," "fire," and "launch."
However, the NIS suggests that the North Korean soldiers are still struggling to fully grasp these instructions, which could impact their effectiveness on the battlefield, according to Digi24.
Basic Russian Commands
South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, a member of the intelligence committee, emphasized the challenges North Korean forces face with basic Russian commands following an intelligence briefing on the matter.
The NIS further noted that a senior Russian security official, potentially overseeing the deployment of North Korean forces, was aboard a Russian government plane that made a special trip between Moscow and Pyongyang from October 23 to 24. This visit is believed to have been a coordination effort for transporting North Korean troops to Russia.
U.S. and South Korean officials have expressed concern over the implications of this alliance, with Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh warning that North Korean forces could be deployed to support Russian operations close to the Ukrainian border in regions like Kursk.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol condemned the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, labeling it a serious security threat for both South Korea and the international community.
