NIS: "North Korean Troops 3,000 Moving to Russia... Expected to Reach 10,000 by December"

North Korean Troops Dispersed Across Multiple Training Facilities in Russia... Undergoing Special Training

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimated on the 23rd that the number of North Korean troops who have moved to Russia so far is around 3,000, and expects the total to reach about 10,000 by December.

At an emergency briefing of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on the same day, NIS Director Cho Tae-yong reported on the deployment trends of North Korean troops to Russia, according to Lee Seong-gwon of the People Power Party and Park Seon-won of the Democratic Party, the committee’s floor leaders. The two lawmakers introduced that the NIS reported that after the first transport from the 8th to the 13th, an additional 1,500 troops moved, bringing the total to about 3,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia.

Rep. Park said, "The NIS presented quite credible intelligence that about 10,000 troops will be deployed," adding, "There was a report that the deployment of about 10,000 troops is expected around December."

The NIS also reported that the currently deployed North Korean troops appear to be dispersed across multiple training facilities within Russia and are adapting locally. Regarding the North Korean military capabilities, it was reported that "Russian instructors assess the deployed North Korean troops as physically fit and highly motivated, but lacking understanding of modern warfare such as drone attacks, and anticipate a high number of casualties if deployed to the front lines."

The NIS also confirmed trends within the Russian military of large-scale recruitment of Korean language interpreters and the provision of special training for North Korean troops on the use of military equipment and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Cho Tae-yong, Director of the National Intelligence Service, is attending an emergency briefing held by the Intelligence Committee on the afternoon of the 23rd.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Within North Korea, the authorities have not disclosed the deployment to the outside, but rumors are spreading, and there are reports that "families of selected soldiers are weeping so much that their faces are disfigured." The NIS reported to the National Assembly that the North Korean authorities have also detected signs of collective relocation and isolation of these families to certain locations for strict secrecy and effective control and management of the deployed soldiers’ families.

The NIS believes the timing of the deployment discussions was immediately after the signing in June of the "Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," which includes a clause to provide military assistance without delay if either party is in a state of war. The deployment intentions are analyzed to be influenced by the solidification of the North Korea-Russia military alliance, inducement of Russian intervention in Korea in case of emergency, seeking a breakthrough to economic difficulties, and the need to accelerate military modernization.

Rep. Lee said, "(Russia) is naturally expected to pay an economic price in return for the deployment to North Korea." The NIS reportedly did not separately report on local media reports that some deployed North Korean troops have deserted.