North Korea plans troop dispatch to Russia in July or August, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS). This revelation came during a confidential briefing to South Korea’s parliamentary intelligence committee on Thursday. Lawmakers briefed by the NIS stated that Pyongyang has already started recruiting personnel. Reports indicate that North Korea may send 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 sappers to Russia’s Kursk region.
North Korea plans troop dispatch to Russia as part of growing military cooperation. Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu’s recent visit to Pyongyang has further strengthened their defense ties. During his second trip to North Korea this month, Shoigu met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Russian media confirmed that thousands of North Korean workers will support front-line infrastructure in Kursk. These developments follow consistent military exchanges between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Furthermore, the NIS disclosed that North Korea has already provided over 10 million artillery shells and various long-range weapons to Russia. In return, Moscow offers economic assistance and technical expertise. North Korea plans troop dispatch to Russia not only to assist militarily but also to gain economic and technological benefits. These actions underline a strategic alignment between both nations in defiance of international norms.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s spy agency highlighted that Russia now controls about 81 percent of Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Luhansk in Ukraine. The NIS also warned that Russia may launch a new offensive soon, possibly between July and August. Turning to the Middle East, the NIS expressed concern over renewed tensions between Israel and Iran. Although a ceasefire is in place, both sides may resume fighting depending on domestic factors.
South Korea has responded by boosting safety protocols for its citizens in the region. Authorities have increased surveillance of vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and reinforced monitoring of energy supply chains. These actions aim to minimize disruptions in critical imports like crude oil and ensure national stability amid global conflicts.
