North Korea Effectively Admits Deployment of Troops to Russia but Remains 'Silent' Internally

NIS Confirms Signs of Relocation and Isolation for Internal Control

North Korea has effectively acknowledged the deployment of troops to Russia, claiming it was a legitimate action. However, it has been confirmed that this information is not being disclosed to the residents.

The National Intelligence Service recently announced on the 18th that it has obtained photos of a suspected North Korean soldier believed to be active on the Russia-Ukraine front through cooperation with Ukrainian intelligence agencies. The photos show the North Korean soldier participating in the Ukraine war and the image of the individual published in the North Korean Rodong Sinmun newspaper last August. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 26th, North Korean domestic media such as the Workers' Party organ Rodong Sinmun, Korean Central TV, and Radio Korean Central Broadcasting did not report the statement made the previous day by the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs regarding North Korea's troop deployment to Russia.

Kim Jong-gyu, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of Russia, responded to a question from a reporter of the external media Korean Central News Agency, saying, "We have taken note of the recent international media coverage speculating about our military's deployment to Russia," and added, "If such an event occurs, I believe it would be an action in accordance with international legal norms."

He further elaborated, "There will certainly be forces that want to portray it as illegal."

Although he did not explicitly confirm the troop deployment, his remarks were made to assert that it was a lawful measure, thereby indirectly admitting the fact of deployment.

Since last year, North Korea has actively promoted its friendship with Russia. However, it is believed that the regime has decided not to share with residents the news that sons and daughters have been sent to a battlefield where they could lose their lives.

Nevertheless, rumors have quietly spread among North Korean residents, prompting the authorities to clamp down on information.

Earlier, on the 23rd, the National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly that it had detected signs of North Korea collectively relocating and isolating families of deployed soldiers to an undisclosed location for effective control and management.

The National Intelligence Service also revealed that within North Korea, there are reports that families of soldiers who learned about the deployment to Russia have been crying uncontrollably, resulting in severe facial injuries.