**North Korea to Send More Troops to Russia, Expanding Military Ties**
According to a closed-door briefing by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), North Korea is likely to send more troops to Russia as early as July or August. This move would further strengthen the military ties between the two authoritarian regimes.
The NIS reported that Pyongyang has already begun recruiting soldiers for deployment to Russia, on top of what Seoul estimates is substantial support from North Korea, including the transfer of over 10 million artillery shells and ballistic missiles in exchange for economic and technical assistance.
**Laborers and Drone Production**
In addition to troop deployments, there are reports that North Korea may send up to 25,000 laborers to Russia to support drone production, specifically Shahed-type loitering munitions. In return, Pyongyang reportedly seeks training in drone operations, signaling an effort to integrate advanced unmanned aerial capabilities into its own military arsenal.
**Growing Military Partnership**
The developments come amid intensifying diplomatic exchanges between the two regimes. Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu traveled to North Korea on June 17 under a special directive from President Vladimir Putin, meeting with Kim Jong Un and announcing that Pyongyang had agreed to dispatch 1,000 sappers and 5,000 military engineers to Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
**North Korean Combat Units in Action**
North Korean combat units have already participated in front-line operations, helping Russia repel a Ukrainian cross-border offensive into Kursk Oblast. Ukraine briefly held 1,300 square kilometers in the region before losing most of the territory during Russia’s March 2025 counteroffensive, which was supported by Pyongyang. The U.K. defense intelligence estimates place North Korean casualties at over 6,000.
**Symbolic and Operational Depth**
The strengthening military ties between Russia and North Korea have been underscored by recent events. During Russia’s May 9 Victory Day Parade in Moscow, President Putin personally greeted North Korean troops in Red Square, while Kim Jong Un did not attend but remains one of the Kremlin’s staunchest foreign backers.
**Commentary and Analysis**
The growing military partnership between Russia and North Korea has significant implications for regional security. The deployment of more North Korean troops to Russia would further bolster Moscow’s war effort against Ukraine, potentially altering the course of the conflict.
Furthermore, the reported laborer deployments and drone production initiatives demonstrate a deepening commitment from both regimes to strengthen their military capabilities. This trend highlights an increasingly close alliance between Russia and North Korea, one that could have far-reaching consequences for global security.
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