NIS: "North Korean Troops Dispatched to Russia Participating in Combat... Deployed to Kursk Battlefield" (Comprehensive)

The US and South Korea Officially Confirm 'North Korean Military Combat Participation'
Government Response in Focus

The National Intelligence Service stated on the 13th that North Korean troops deployed to Russia are "already assessed to be participating in combat."

Regarding reports of North Korean troops' combat involvement, the NIS said, "North Korean troops deployed to Russia have moved to the Kursk region over the past two weeks and have completed deployment to the battlefield."

It added, "We are collecting and analyzing additional related intelligence and information."

This stance from the NIS came after the U.S. Department of State confirmed North Korean troops' combat participation in Russia.

Vedant Patel, Deputy Spokesperson of the U.S. Department of State, stated at a briefing on the 12th (local time) that North Korean troops who moved to Kursk "can be confirmed to have started engaging in combat operations alongside Russian forces."

Furthermore, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with reporters on the 13th at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, reiterating the confirmation of North Korean troops' combat participation and declaring a firm response.

Although the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had maintained a cautious stance until the morning of the same day, saying they were "carefully monitoring with the actual possibility in mind" regarding North Korean troops' combat involvement despite the U.S. official confirmation, intelligence authorities have now officially confirmed it.

As the government confirms North Korean troops' participation in the Ukraine war, attention is focused on whether there will be changes in responses such as weapons support to Ukraine.

A Foreign Ministry official said on the day regarding phased response measures to the commencement of combat by North Korean troops deployed to Russia, "We will take necessary measures together with the international community in stages according to the progress of Russia-North Korea military cooperation."