North Korea may send military construction and engineering forces to participate in “reconstruction work” in the occupied Donetsk region.
North Korea is almost Russia’s main ally in the war against Ukraine. In a recent meeting between the two dictators, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, they signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement, aimed at expanding economic and military cooperation. North Korea has long provided the Kremlin with weapons for the war against Ukraine, but now it will also help the soldiers?
Corps of Engineers
North Korea will send military construction and engineering forces to participate in “reconstruction work” in the occupied Donetsk region in July this year, South Korean TV channel TV Chosun reported, citing an official of South Korea.
Thus, South Korea anticipated the dispatch of large North Korean engineering forces to the occupied Donetsk region in early July. These forces are to help restore infrastructure in occupied Donetsk.
The North Korean military has 10 engineering brigades, and Chosun TV estimates that North Korea could receive up to $115 million annually from Russia if it sent three or four engineering brigades to occupied Ukraine.
How will this help Russia?
The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) states that they have not yet seen any signs or evidence that North Korean military personnel are preparing to take part in hostilities in Ukraine. However, as experts emphasize, direct engineering support from North Korea in the occupied territories can free up Russian army forces for operations along the front line, in particular, help Russia to expand military infrastructure and defensive fortifications in the occupied part of Ukraine.
Reaction
The adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Mikhail Podolyak, reacted sharply to the information that North Korea may send military construction and engineering forces to the temporarily occupied territory of the Donetsk region.
He noted that the DPRK has “quietly emerged from international sanctions” and is actively engaged in military cooperation with Russia. Now the country has decided to send special engineering troops to participate in a full-scale war against Ukraine.
“AND? Nothing. Silence. Instead of responding, the UN invites Russian Interior Minister Kolokoltsev, who is under “severe” personal sanctions, to a “peacekeeping summit” to publicly discuss “peacekeeping” and re tell neutral nations “to attack other sovereigns, killing civilians en masse. . great, right,” wrote Podolyak in Telegram. The adviser to the head of the OP sarcastically noted that this shows disregard for North Korea’s direct participation in the war on the side of the Russian Federation, as well as the invitation of the representative of Russia at the summits, leading to a “fair end. .”
US Defense Department spokesman Pat Ryder expressed the opinion that the North Korean military, if sent to assist Russian forces in Ukraine, would likely become “cannon fodder.”
“If I were the chief of military staff of North Korea, I would question sending my forces as cannon fodder in an illegal war against Ukraine,” Ryder said at the briefing.
He added that the United States will continue to monitor the situation as cooperation between Russia and North Korea strengthens.
Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.