Ukraine says 'matter of days' before North Korean troops reach front line

Ukraine's military intelligence agency intercepted communication that appeared to show North Koreans heading to the Kursk front line in civilian vehicles.

Astra, an outlet claiming to be independent Russian media, posted footage on its Telegram channel on Tuesday showing what appear to be North Korean soldiers standing outside a building. Astra claimed the video captures the arrival of North Korean soldiers at a military base, believed to be Unit 44980 of the 127th Motor Rifle Division in Sergievsky in Russia's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

North Korean troops were spotted en route to Ukraine’s front lines to fight along with Russia using "civilian vehicles," Ukrainian authorities reported Sunday.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that the North Korean troops could join the battlefield against Ukraine "in a matter of days."

Details of intercepted radio communication revealed by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, HUR, on Sunday showed Russian police reportedly stopped a civilian-plated truck "loaded with North Korean military personnel" on the Kursk-Voronezh highway, Ukrainian media outlet The Kyiv Independent reported. Kursk, located in southwestern Russia, has been the site of front line conflict between Ukraine and Russia, with Ukrainian forces making an incursion in August and occupying some parts of the region.

According to HUR’s audio release, Russian authorities questioned the driver, who did not have documented combat orders, about transporting the North Korean personnel.

The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that obtained video footage and quotes from intelligence officials show North Korean soldiers, mostly teenagers or young adults in their early 20s, arriving in the Kursk region. Intelligence officials suggested that these troops may be in the "early stages of conscription" and likely lack significant combat experience. The Journal further noted “these fresh-faced troops have likely never left North Korea" and operate "aging and outdated conventional military equipment."

Officials estimate that North Korea has sent approximately 12,000 troops to Russia, including elite units such as the 11th Corps, or "Storm Corps." Of these, around 3,000 are believed to have arrived in eastern Russia, with some already deployed in Kursk.

Former South Korean defense official James JB Park, now a fellow at the Pacific Forum think tank, speculated that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may be testing reactions by deploying younger, less experienced troops initially.

"They are paving the way for more seasoned forces," Park was quoted as saying in the Wall Street Journal report, suggesting that the current deployed troops in Kursk may not include North Korea’s most elite troops. South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun echoed this assessment last Thursday, describing these troops as “mere cannon fodder mercenaries” during a parliamentary hearing.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, right, poses with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during their talks at Seoul's foreign ministry on March 18. [YONHAP]

The reports of North Korean soldiers moving to Ukraine’s front lines come as South Korea and the United States prepare for “two plus two” talks involving their top foreign and defense officials in Washington this Thursday. Seoul’s foreign ministry announced Monday that these discussions will cover Korean Peninsula security, the bilateral alliance and other pressing issues, with a possible statement condemning North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia.

The United Nations Security Council is also set to address Ukraine’s situation on Wednesday. The Permanent Mission of Switzerland, presiding over the Council this month, confirmed that the meeting was requested by Ukraine with backing from the United States, France, Britain, Japan, Slovenia, Malta and South Korea.

Additionally, a South Korean delegation visiting NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday was set to provide briefings on the North Korean troop presence in Russia and the implications for regional security.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]