Ukraine’s military intelligence said on Thursday that the first North Korean units trained in Russia had been deployed in the Kursk region, a Russian border area where Ukrainian forces have made an incursion.
The statement on the intelligence agency’s Telegram channel said around 12,000 North Korean troops, including 500 officers and three generals, were already in Russia, and training was taking place at five military bases.
The Ukrainian agency added that Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov had been tasked with overseeing the training of the North Korean military.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not deny that North Korean troops were currently in his country.
He said on Thursday that it was Moscow’s business how to implement a partnership treaty with Pyongyang, referring to a comprehensive strategic partnership the two countries signed in June.
Putin has said the treaty included a mutual assistance clause for each side to help the other repel external aggression.
Ties between Moscow and Pyongyang grew deeper after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The Kremlin has previously dismissed reports about a North Korean troop deployment as "fake news.”
The Ukrainian agency added that Russian Deputy Defence Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov had been tasked with overseeing the training of the North Korean military.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not deny that North Korean troops were currently in his country.
He said on Thursday that it was Moscow’s business how to implement a partnership treaty with Pyongyang, referring to a comprehensive strategic partnership the two countries signed in June.
Putin has said the treaty included a mutual assistance clause for each side to help the other repel external aggression.
Ties between Moscow and Pyongyang grew deeper after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
The Kremlin has previously dismissed reports about a North Korean troop deployment as "fake news.”
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