North Korea may send more troops to Russia in July or August for Ukraine war, Seoul says
North Korea may deploy additional troops to Russia to fight in the war against Ukraine in July or August, and Pyongyang is continuing to supply arms to Russia, South Korean lawmakers said on Thursday (June 26, 2025), citing a briefing by the intelligence agency.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) believes Russia may be readying to mount a large-scale assault against Ukraine in July or August, South Korean member of parliament Lee Seong-kweun told reporters after the closed-door briefing.
Also Read | North Korea plans to send military construction workers and deminers to Russia
"The timing of the additional deployment is that it could be as early as July or August," Mr. Lee said, adding the agency cited a new round-up of troops for the dispatch by North Korea and a recent visit to Pyongyang by a top Russian presidential security official as grounds for its assessment.
In return for North Korea sending artillery ammunition and missiles to Russia, Pyongyang is likely receiving technical advice on satellite launches and missile guidance systems, Lee said, citing the NIS briefing.
After months of silence, both North Korea and Russia have disclosed the deployment of North Korean troops and the role they played in Moscow's offensive against Ukraine to reclaim the Kursk region.
The two countries said the cooperation is based on the treaty signed by their leaders in June last year that includes a mutual defense pact.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Iran says no plan for new US nuclear talks, plays down impact of strikes
Iran on Thursday denied it is set to resume nuclear talks with the United States after the end of a 12-day war with Israel, and accused Washington of exaggerating the impact of US strikes. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)(AP) The most serious conflict yet between Israel and Iran derailed nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, yet President Donald Trump said Washington would hold discussions with Tehran next week, with his special envoy Steve Witkoff expressing hope "for a comprehensive peace agreement". But Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shut down what he said was "speculation" that Tehran would come to the table and said it "should not be taken seriously". "I would like to state clearly that no agreement, arrangement or conversation has been made to start new negotiations," he said on state television. "No plan has been set yet to start negotiations." Araghchi's denial came as Iranian lawmakers passed a "binding" bill suspending cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog and after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei accused Trump of exaggerating the impact of US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites. In a televised speech -- his first appearance since a ceasefire in the war with Israel -- Khamenei hailed what he described as Iran's "victory" over Israel, vowed never to yield to US pressure and insisted Washington had been dealt a humiliating "slap". "The American president exaggerated events in unusual ways, and it turned out that he needed this exaggeration," Khamenei said, rejecting US claims Iran's nuclear programme had been set back by decades. The strikes, he insisted, had done "nothing significant" to Iran's nuclear infrastructure. Araghchi, for his part, called the damage "serious" and said a detailed assessment was under way. Trump said key facilities, including the underground Fordo uranium enrichment site, had been "obliterated" by American B-2 bombers. Posting on his Truth Social platform, he dismissed speculation Iran might have removed enriched uranium prior to the raid, saying: "Nothing was taken out... too dangerous, and very heavy and hard to move!" He added that satellite images showed trucks at the site only because Iranian crews were attempting to shield the facility with concrete. Khamenei dismissed such claims, saying "the Islamic republic won, and in retaliation dealt a severe slap to the face of America". Both sides have claimed victory: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a "historic win", while Khamenei said Iran's missile retaliation had brought Israel to the brink of collapse. US defence In Washington, the true impact of the strikes has sparked sharp political and intelligence debates. A leaked classified assessment suggested the damage to Iran's nuclear programme may be less severe than initially claimed -- possibly delaying progress by only a few months. That contrasts with statements from senior US officials. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said several facilities would need to be "rebuilt over the course of years". Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth accused the media of misrepresenting the operation. He said the United States used massive GBU-57 bunker-buster bombs on Fordo and another underground site, while submarine-launched Tomahawk missiles targeted a third facility. "President Trump created the conditions to end the war, decimating -- choose your word -- obliterating, destroying Iran's nuclear capabilities," Hegseth said. Doubts remain about whether Iran quietly removed some 400 kilogrammes (880 pounds) of enriched uranium from its most sensitive sites before the strikes -- potentially hiding nuclear material elsewhere in the country. Netanyahu says Iran 'thwarted' Following waves of Israeli attacks on nuclear and military sites and retaliatory missile fire from Iran since mid-June -- the deadliest between the two countries to date -- the US bombed three key Iranian atomic facilities. Initial intelligence reports, first revealed by CNN, suggested the strikes did not destroy critical components and delayed Iran's nuclear programme only by months. Experts questioned if Iran had pre-emptively moved enriched uranium to protect it. The US administration has forcefully rejected such suggestions. The Israeli military said Iran's nuclear sites had taken a "significant" blow, but cautioned it was "still early" to fully assess the damage. Netanyahu said Israel had "thwarted Iran's nuclear project", warning any attempt by Iran to rebuild it would be met with the same determination and intensity. Iran has consistently denied seeking a nuclear weapon while defending its "legitimate rights" to the peaceful use of atomic energy. It has also said it is willing to return to nuclear negotiations with Washington. The Israeli strikes on Iran killed at least 627 civilians, Tehran's health ministry said. Iran's attacks on Israel killed 28 people, according to Israeli figures.
NDTV
an hour ago
- NDTV
EU Agrees To Renew Russia Sanctions For Another 6 Months
Brussels: The EU's 27 leaders on Thursday agreed to extend sanctions on Russia for another six months, resolving fears that Kremlin-friendly Hungary would let the measures lapse, officials said. The decision at a summit in Brussels means that the EU's sweeping sanctions over the war in Ukraine, including the freezing of more than 200 billion euros in Russian central bank assets, will remain in force until at least early 2026.
India Gazette
2 hours ago
- India Gazette
Rajnath Singh meets Kazakhstan counterpart on sidelines of SCO
Qingdao [China], June 26 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with Kazakhstan's Defence Minister Lieutenant General Dauren Kosanov on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China, on Thursday. Earlier, the defence minister met with his Tajikistan counterpart, Lieutenant General Emomali Sobirzoda, on the sidelines of the SCO. Continuing his bilateral engagements, the Defence Minister also held a meeting with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov and Belarusian counterpart, Lieutenant General Viktor Gennadievich Khrenin. As part of the day's programme, the Defence Ministers of the SCO visited the Qingdao International Conference Centre, the venue of the 2018 SCO Summit, reflecting on the organisation's evolving role in regional cooperation. The SCO Defence Ministers' meeting, taking place from June 25 to 26, brings together member states to discuss key regional and global security issues. According to the Ministry of Defence, discussions at the meeting are expected to focus on promoting international and regional peace and security, strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation, and enhancing collaboration among the defence ministries of SCO member states. Upon his arrival at the venue, Rajnath Singh was received by Chinese Defence Minister Admiral Dong Jun. The two leaders later joined other participating ministers for a group photograph before the official proceedings commenced. Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif arrived at the venue after Singh. In a press release, the Ministry of Defence stated that India is expected to highlight its continued commitment to the principles and mandate of the SCO, articulate its vision for greater international peace and security, call for united and consistent efforts to eliminate terrorism and extremism in the region, and emphasise the need for deeper trade, economic cooperation, and connectivity within the bloc. 'SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, mutual respect, understanding and equality of all member states,' the Defence Ministry added. The SCO is an intergovernmental organisation established in 2001. India became a full member in 2017 and held the rotating chairmanship in 2023. The current members of the bloc include India, China, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Belarus. China has assumed the Chair of the SCO for 2025 under the theme 'Upholding the Shanghai Spirit: SCO on the Move.' (ANI)
