North Korea Is Training New Troops for the Russian Army — Reuters
On August 24, South Korea reported that North Korea continues to prepare a new shipment of military personnel to Russia, although there are currently no signs that it will begin in the near future. Pyongyang has also already transferred more than 15 million artillery rounds and ballistic missiles to Moscow.
The South Korean Ministry of Defense reported that North Korea continues to prepare to send additional troops to Russia. However, the ministry has found no signs that such a deployment will take place in the near future.
According to estimates by the South Korean ministry, North Korea has already supplied Russia with over 15 million artillery rounds. These are shells equivalent in caliber to 152-millimeter rounds.
In addition, Pyongyang continues to transfer weapons systems to Moscow, including short-range ballistic missiles.
South Korea’s Defense Intelligence Agency believes that the accuracy of these missiles in combat could have improved. The reason is battlefield data, as well as technical advice and component support from Russia.
The ministry also reported that the development of certain North Korean ballistic missiles and multiple-launch rocket systems, presumably intended for a potential conflict with South Korea, is nearing completion.
The “Hwasong-12” medium-range ballistic missile, capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam, is being prepared for operational deployment.
North Korea’s intercontinental missiles could theoretically reach the continental United States. However, key technologies—in particular, the reentry of the warhead into the atmosphere—have not yet been tested; all previous launches were conducted along an elevated trajectory, according to Reuters.
As a reminder, North Korea sent a new contingent of 8,500 troops to Russia.
In addition, on Thursday, August 20, North Korea launched an unidentified object toward the waters off its east coast. This was reported by South Korean military officials, according to Deutsche Welle.
North Korea stated that reducing the scale and duration of joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises does not change its stance on these maneuvers. Pyongyang continues to view the exercises as provocative and aggressive, which could complicate a possible resumption of diplomatic contacts between Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump.
