North Korea likely to send more troops to Russia in July, August: NIS
The National Intelligence Service, Seoul's main spy agency, said Thursday that North Korea may soon dispatch additional troops to Russia.
According to People Power Party Rep. Lee Seong-kweun, who was briefed by the NIS, the deployment could be made in July and August at the earliest.
North Korea first sent 11,000 troops to Russia in October last year, and 4,000 more troops this February.
During a trip to Pyongyang last week by top Russian security official Sergei Shoigu, Russian media reports said that 6,000 military engineers and construction troops would be sent to the Kursk region, where Russian forces have been working to build a so-called "buffer zone."
"North Korea deployed 11,000 elite soldiers to Russia late last year, about a month after Shoigu's Pyongyang trip. North Korea has recently begun recruiting soldiers for deployment as well," Lee said.
In addition to troops, the NIS believes North Korea has supplied Russia with weapons, including artillery shells, long-range artillery and missiles, via ships and military aircraft, Lee said.
The NIS said Russia is thought to have provided North Korea with economic assistance, air defense missile systems and jamming equipment in return, as well as help with improving its space launch vehicle engines, drones and missile guidance capabilities, according to Lee.
Regarding the recent ceasefire entered by Israel and Iran, the NIS believes an armed conflict "could resume anytime," said Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Park Sun-won, who was also briefed by the spy agency.
"The NIS said the hostility between the two sides is so stark that an armed clash could erupt again at any given time," Park said.
Citing the NIS, the Democratic Party lawmaker said, "Israel may restart the war based on domestic political calculations, and Iran may also go to war to reassert its influence as it sorts out its internal turmoil."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
7 hours ago
- Korea Herald
North Korea likely to send more troops to Russia in July, August: NIS
The National Intelligence Service, Seoul's main spy agency, said Thursday that North Korea may soon dispatch additional troops to Russia. According to People Power Party Rep. Lee Seong-kweun, who was briefed by the NIS, the deployment could be made in July and August at the earliest. North Korea first sent 11,000 troops to Russia in October last year, and 4,000 more troops this February. During a trip to Pyongyang last week by top Russian security official Sergei Shoigu, Russian media reports said that 6,000 military engineers and construction troops would be sent to the Kursk region, where Russian forces have been working to build a so-called "buffer zone." "North Korea deployed 11,000 elite soldiers to Russia late last year, about a month after Shoigu's Pyongyang trip. North Korea has recently begun recruiting soldiers for deployment as well," Lee said. In addition to troops, the NIS believes North Korea has supplied Russia with weapons, including artillery shells, long-range artillery and missiles, via ships and military aircraft, Lee said. The NIS said Russia is thought to have provided North Korea with economic assistance, air defense missile systems and jamming equipment in return, as well as help with improving its space launch vehicle engines, drones and missile guidance capabilities, according to Lee. Regarding the recent ceasefire entered by Israel and Iran, the NIS believes an armed conflict "could resume anytime," said Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Park Sun-won, who was also briefed by the spy agency. "The NIS said the hostility between the two sides is so stark that an armed clash could erupt again at any given time," Park said. Citing the NIS, the Democratic Party lawmaker said, "Israel may restart the war based on domestic political calculations, and Iran may also go to war to reassert its influence as it sorts out its internal turmoil."
Korea Herald
10 hours ago
- Korea Herald
N. Korea eyes Russian tourists for soon-to-open beach resort: Seoul
No sign of restarting Chinese group tours to N. Korea since 2020, says Unification Ministry North Korea is expected to court Russian tourists following the official completion of its Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone, which is set to open first to domestic travelers in July, South Korea's Unification Ministry said Thursday. The ministry also noted that construction — which had been suspended for an extended period — resumed last year, possibly with material support from Russia and the expectation of attracting Russian tourists. North Korean state media reported Thursday on the completion ceremony of the Wonsan-Kalma beach resort, held Tuesday and attended by leader Kim Jong-un, his wife Ri Sol Ju, their daughter, widely believed to be Kim Ju-ae, and his sister Kim Yo-jong. Ri made her first public appearance since attending a New Year's Day music concert in 2024. The resort is set to open to domestic visitors on July 1, the state-run Korean Central News Agency said. KCNA reported, 'The tourist zone equipped with hotels and inns capable of accommodating around 20,000 people, allowing domestic and international visitors to choose accommodations that suit their preferences' in a Korean language report. Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexandr Matsegora and his embassy members were invited as special guests, according to the state media report. 'Operations are expected to gradually expand to include Russian tourists, beginning with domestic tourism on July 1,' a Unification Ministry official said on condition of anonymity during a closed-door briefing. 'The fact that the Russian ambassador was invited and highlighted (in the state media report) also appears to have been intended with Russian tourists in mind.' The official further explained, 'North Korea has regarded tourism as very important while recognizing it as a key means of earning foreign currency.' 'Tourism itself is not a violation of sanctions. However, tourism operations that involve bulk cash transfers or are conducted in the form of cooperative projects or joint ventures with North Korea could constitute a violation of sanctions,' the official said. 'On the other hand, individual tourists paying their own expenses on a cost-reimbursement basis would not be considered a sanctions violation.' UN Security Council Resolution 2270 prohibits the transfer of bulk cash to North Korea, and Resolution 2375 bans all UN member states from creating any new joint ventures with North Korean entities or individuals. North Korea's decision to resume yearslong construction of the Wonsan-Kalma coastal tourist zone in 2024 could be related to a closer alignment with Russia during the country's grinding war against Ukraine. 'Since North Korea's involvement in the Ukraine war, it is believed that the country has received various forms of material support from Russia — support that may have contributed economically to the completion of the Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone,' the unnamed official said. 'Additionally, there is a possibility that North Korea will actively seek to attract Russian tourists, which could explain the renewed push to promote the project.' North Korea initially designated the area along the coast connecting Wonsan and Mount Kumgang a tourist zone in 2014. KCNA previously reported that the groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsan region took place in May 2015, on Kalma Street in Wonsan city. North Korea originally set a goal of completing the tourist zone by April 15, 2019, to mark the birth anniversary of the country's late founder, Kim Il-sung. However, the project was repeatedly delayed due to difficulties in securing construction materials under international sanctions. Construction had been halted following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and remained suspended until 2024. The official, however, underscored that Seoul needs to watch how much tourism in the Wonsan-Kalma coastal zone can actually be realized 'due to various limitations in transportation infrastructure.' Based on the number of flights and the size of aircraft operating between Pyongyang and Vladivostok, the maximum number of people who could travel via Pyongyang to the Wonsan-Kalma coastal zone in a single day would be around 170, according to the official. The official also explained there has been no progress in resuming Chinese group tours, which have been suspended since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020. 'We are also monitoring the potential resumption of large-scale Chinese group tours to North Korea, but no concrete signs have emerged yet.'
Korea Herald
11 hours ago
- Korea Herald
S. Korea, NATO to launch new defense cooperation framework
South Korea and NATO have agreed to establish a working-level consultative body to enhance cooperation in the defense industry, the presidential office said Thursday, as part of broader efforts to expand Seoul's role in NATO's next-generation capability initiatives. The agreement came after Wi Sung-lac, security adviser to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, met with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday in The Hague. Wi attended the NATO summit in place of President Lee. During the meeting, Wi delivered a personal letter from Lee, explaining the president's absence from the summit and reaffirming Seoul's commitment to strengthening its partnership with the transatlantic alliance. 'South Korea is an optimal partner to help reinforce NATO's defense posture, given its outstanding defense capabilities,' Wi was quoted as saying. Rutte also welcomed Seoul's proposals, expressing support for the expansion of the bilateral partnership. The two sides agreed to launch a director-general-level consultation body to facilitate regular dialogue on defense industry cooperation. They also discussed South Korea's participation in NATO's 'High-Visibility Project,' a next-generation program focused on the joint development and procurement of advanced military capabilities. The move comes as NATO member states adopted a joint communique on Wednesday, agreeing to increase defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product by 2035. The 5 percent goal reflects pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has demanded greater defense spending from NATO allies via both direct and indirect military expenditures — a stance that may also heighten expectations for South Korea to increase its contributions. While the US has not formally asked Seoul to increase its defense spending, pressure is expected to grow — particularly over the cost of deploying strategic US assets on the Korean Peninsula. At a recent seminar in Seoul, Joseph Yun, charge d'affaires ad interim at the US Embassy, suggested expanding cost-sharing discussions beyond the current Special Measures Agreement — which covers military construction, logistics, and personnel expenses for US forces stationed in Korea — to potentially include new categories such as strategic deployments. In response, South Korea has emphasized that its defense budget — 2.34 percent of GDP, or 59.4 trillion won ($43.7 billion), in 2024 — will be guided by national priorities. The Foreign Ministry, on June 20, stated that Seoul would determine its defense budget 'in consideration of both domestic and external security environments as well as the government's fiscal capacity.'
