North Korea deploys 12,000 soldiers to aid Russia in Ukraine

South Korea's NIS confirmed that North Korea is deploying 12,000 soldiers to support Russia in Ukraine.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits 2nd Corps of the Korean People's Army on Thursday in a photo released by the Rodong Sinmun the following day. [NEWS1]

South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed Friday that North Korea has decided to deploy 12,000 soldiers to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine.

“It is believed that North Korea recently decided to send four brigades of 12,000 soldiers, including special forces, for the Ukraine war,” the NIS stated. An NIS source said that the deployment has already begun.

This marks the first time North Korea has deployed troops on a large scale.

On the same day, President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency security meeting regarding North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia.

Key officials from the Office of National Security, Defense Ministry and National Intelligence Service extensively discussed the security implications of North Korea's actions and possible responsive measures, according to the presidential office.

“Participants agreed that the close military ties between Russia and North Korea, which have escalated from the movement of military supplies to actual deployments, pose a significant security threat not only to our country, but also to the international community,” the presidential office said in a news release, adding that it would “mobilize all available means, in cooperation with the international community, to respond accordingly.”

“The government has been closely monitoring North Korea's troop deployments to Russia, from the beginning, in cooperation with allied countries, and we plan to continue to watch the situation closely and take necessary measures proactively,” the statement read.

Earlier on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that North Korea was preparing to send soldiers to fight against his country.

“We know about 10,000 soldiers of North Korea that they are preparing to send to fight against us,” Zelensky said at a news conference in Brussels, citing military intelligence sources. He mentioned that they included armed forces and other tactical personnel.

The Kyiv Independent reported Tuesday that North Korea had sent 10,000 soldiers to Russia to strengthen its war efforts against Ukraine, citing a Western diplomat familiar with the matter.

The Kyiv Post reported, citing Ukraine's military intelligence, that up to 3,000 North Koreans are being trained to take part in a “Special Buryat Battalion” under the 11th separate airborne assault brigade of the Russian Armed Forces.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]