For the first time since the start of Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine, troops will be sent to the front third country. Until now, only foreign mercenaries fought there.
Although it is about engineering troops and not combat units, North Korea has given the green light to send its forces alongside the Russian aggressor. This comes just days after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang and announced the signing of a historic security cooperation agreement between the two countries.
North Korea will send construction and engineering troops to the occupied territories of the Donetsk region. This will happen in July this year. It is assumed that the Koreans will carry out “restoration works”, Ukrainian media wrote, citing information from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The North Korean army has 10 engineer brigades. North Korea could receive up to $115 million a year from Russia if it sends three or four engineering brigades to the occupied part of Ukraine. The information was confirmed by South Korean intelligence. Direct North Korean engineering support could free up Russian combat power for frontline operations.
Russia seeks to create a coalition of friendly countries with historically warm ties to the USSR to form the basis of an alternative world order.
Ukrainian military-political analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko wrote: "What is happening is indicative, especially for our international partners. Mercenaries are mercenaries, and regular troops, even engineers, are regular troops". According to him, over the last month, Russia has lost a record amount of combat and specialized equipment at the front. He asks the logical question - what happened to the Russian engineer troops that Putin has to ask Kim for them? The Russian three-day special operation to capture Kiev is definitely not going according to plan.