Putin rebuts allegations of North Korean troops in Russia: ‘This Is Our Business’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine anticipates the deployment of North Korean soldiers by Russia to combat zones by the end of October.
Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned that it is Moscow’s decision on how to handle the mutual defense clause with Pyongyang when questioned on Oct. 24 about the potential involvement of North Korean troops in Russia.
Several intelligence reports from multiple countries suggest that North Korean troops are present in Russia and preparing for action in Ukraine. Zelenskyy, on Friday, mentioned that Kyiv is expecting the first wave of North Korean troops to join combat zones by the end of the month.
Putin, during a press conference at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, mentioned that if there are satellite images depicting North Korean troop movements, they should be taken seriously. He also referred to Article 4 of the Russian partnership deal with North Korea, focusing on mutual defense.
Putin further stated, “There is article 4. We have never doubted the North Korean leadership’s commitment to our agreements. But the implementation of this article is our prerogative.”
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Furthermore, it was mentioned that there is a NATO presence in Ukraine.
Putin stated, “We know who is present there, from which European NATO countries, and how they carry out this work.”
He also reiterated on Russian state television that the decision to use North Korean troops is a sovereign one.
“When we have to decide something, we will decide … but it is our sovereign decision whether we will apply it, whether we will not, whether we need it,” he expressed. “This is our business.”
Ukraine
Zelenskyy mentioned in a press conference in Brussels on Oct. 17 that intelligence indicated about 10,000 North Korean soldiers were gearing up to confront Ukraine.
Zelenskyy referred to this as a “first step to the World War.” The military intelligence service of Ukraine had previously reported that initial North Korean units trained in Russia were stationed in the Kursk region of western Russia.
South Korean National Intelligence Service allegedly shows recent satellite imagery of a Russian vessel departing North Korea’s port of Najin with North Korean weapons headed to Russia, in this handout photo issued on Oct. 18, 2024. Screenshot/South Korean National Intelligence
During a news conference in Rome, Austin remarked, “We are seeing evidence that there are North Korean troops [in Russia].”
“What exactly they are doing is left to be seen. These are things that we need to sort out,” he added.
The U.S. is continuing to assess the available information, according to the defense secretary.
Turner urged the federal government to make it clear that North Korea’s involvement in the war would be a “red line for the United States.”
South Korea
Last week, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) released satellite evidence showing the deployment of North Korean soldiers to Russia.
The NIS observed Kim Jeong-sik, a senior North Korean official, visiting the KN-23 missile launch site near the Russia–Ukraine border multiple times in early August, accompanied by military officers for guidance.
Further monitoring by the NIS revealed that in early October, ships transported 1,500 North Korean soldiers at a time to Vladivostok in the Russian Far East.
The NIS confirmed the participation of North Korean special forces in the Ukraine–Russia conflict through photos and satellite images, with the initial troop transfer conducted via Russian Pacific Fleet vessels.
This marks the first instance of the Russian naval fleet entering North Korean waters since 1990, as per the intelligence agency.
Contributions by Ryan Morgan, Bill Pan, and Reuters.
