Kyiv [Ukraine], December 24: US intelligence believes that North Korea proactively offered to send troops to support Russia, contrary to previous assessments that Moscow made the offer because it was short of troops in the conflict with Ukraine.
The mobilization of North Korean soldiers to support Russia in the conflict with Ukraine was a request from Pyongyang, not Moscow, according to The New York Times on December 23, citing US intelligence sources.
When North Korean troops began arriving in Russia this fall, some Western officials took it as a sign that the Kremlin was asking for help because it desperately needed more troops.
However, US officials say their intelligence agencies now suspect the troop movement was North Korea's idea, although Russian President Vladimir Putin quickly accepted it.
Ukraine and the West believe that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent at least 10,000 troops to Russia.
These soldiers are mainly coordinating with Russian units to launch counterattacks against a group of Ukrainian soldiers who have controlled some areas of Russia's Kursk province since the summer.
US officials do not believe Mr Kim received anything immediately in return. Instead, they say the leader may hope Russia will reciprocate in the future by assisting in diplomatic battles, providing support if a crisis erupts and providing technology.
A Ukrainian official who monitors the North Korean military's activities said the force was increasing its frontline presence and cooperating with Russian units.
According to AFP on December 24, South Korea said that more than 1,000 North Korean soldiers were killed or injured while supporting Russia, while Ukraine said the number was more than 3,000.
Russia has neither confirmed nor denied the presence of North Korean troops in the country. North Korea initially denied sending troops to Russia, but an official in Pyongyang later said the deployment would be legal.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper