EGN NEWS DESK
According to up to date estimates from Kyiv, Pyongyang has transferred about 12,000 troops to Russia, together with 500 officers and three military generals. Earlier this week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned Ukraine had already noticed North Korean military officers within the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine’s japanese area of Donbas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has not confirmed or denied the presence of DPRK troops in his nation. At the BRICS summit on Thursday, the Kremlin chief mentioned it was “not Russia’s actions that led to the escalation,” and accused Western international locations of serving to Ukraine battle Moscow.
Instead, he recalled that Russia’s parliament had ratified an settlement on a “complete strategic partnership” with North Korea, signed by Putin in Pyongyang this summer time, the place each promise “mutual help in case of aggression” towards one of many signatories.
“Let’s see how this course of goes,” Putin mentioned.
While the Kremlin has insisted that Russia has the proper to conduct any navy cooperation it needs with North Korea, and that any navy exercise will not be aimed “at third international locations,” Pyongyang has dismissed the information that DPRK troops are primed to enter Russia’s struggle as groundless rumors.
Moscow has appointed Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov to observe the coaching and adaptation of the DPRK troops, Ukraine’s navy intelligence mentioned.
“Soldiers despatched by Pyongyang are outfitted with ammunition, bedding, winter garments and sneakers, in addition to hygiene merchandise. The Kremlin has excessive hopes for the North Korean element within the struggle towards Ukraine and the worldwide confrontation with the West,” HUR mentioned.
“I feel they despatched the officers as a result of their officers would perceive what was occurring first after which ship the contingent. Because, easy methods to handle them, easy methods to command them? I’m speaking about language. I feel these are critical difficulties,” Zelenskyy advised reporters in Kyiv on Monday.
