North Korean troops appear to be training in Russia ahead of their deployment to fight against Ukraine.
Video footage posted online shows dozens of soldiers dressed in military uniforms, carrying backpacks and walking in line at what appears to be a Russian military base.
The Telegraph could not verify where the video was shot but Dara Massicot, a Russian expert, believes that it was taken at a base in the Eastern Military District in the Far East region.
Those filmed could be heard speaking with North Korean accents, a language expert told The Telegraph.
“There’s a million of them here, new reinforcements,” the person filming says in Russian, adding: “That’s it, we’ve been conquered.”
Around 1,500 North Korean troops have already arrived in Russia, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), with 12,000 expected to be deployed in total.
Seoul’s NIS said the first contingent of troops were special forces and they had been transported to Russia on a Russian navy ship between Oct 8 and 13.
Detailed satellite images
It also released detailed satellite images of what it said was Pyongyang’s first deployment to Russia, with the forces allegedly stationed in military bases across the Far East region.
The move would mark the first official deployment of foreign troops on behalf of either side since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Although mercenaries and foreign nationals have fought on both sides, no forces have been sent from any state or international alliance, such as Nato.
South Korea’s NIS said the soldiers had been issued Russian military uniforms, weapons, and fake IDs, and are expected to be deployed to fight Ukraine after they complete acclimatisation training.
“This seems to be an effort to disguise the fact that they are North Korean troops by making them appear as Russian soldiers,” the spy agency said.
In response, Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s president, plans to hold a security meeting on Friday, urging the international community to respond with “all available means”.
Earlier this week, Volodymyr Zelensky said he believed that 10,000 North Korean soldiers could join the war based on intelligence information, labelling Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, a “coalition of criminals”.
‘Sticking plaster’
Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s intelligence chief, added to the speculation on Thursday, saying that 11,000 North Korean soldiers were being prepared to fight in Ukraine.
The first 2,600 troops will be sent to Russia’s Kursk region by Nov 1, Mr Budonav claimed.
Neither Russia or North Korea have confirmed the claims, but Pyongyang has long been sending weapons, such as ballistic missiles, to Russia. The relationship has strengthened since a defence pact was signed during Putin’s visit to North Korea in June.
Whether the number of troops deployed is 10,000 or 12,000, it is low compared to the 30,000 or so Russian troops thought to be lost fighting Ukraine each month.
“The Russians are getting really what amounts to sticking plaster,” said Ian Garner, a historian and analyst of Russian culture.
“It is not going to swing the war in Russia’s favour and not the start of some sort of new axis of evil.”
North Korea has nothing to lose from helping Russia, said Mr Garner, but could gain in prestige, as well as possibly receiving financial benefit, and technological or nuclear expertise.
“North Korea is isolated already and China is currently not that bothered by support for Russia. However, if China does say no, it won’t happen,” he said.
“Russia has very little to offer North Korea compared to what China offers, so if Beijing puts the dampeners on the plan then those troops may never materialise at the front.”