Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on June 26, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
North Korea may send troops to Russia for the Ukraine war in July or August, continuing arms supply, according to South Korean intelligence.
SEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea may deploy additional troops to Russia to fight in the war against Ukraine in July or August and Pyongyang is continuing to supply arms to Russia, South Korean lawmakers said on Thursday, citing a briefing by the intelligence agency.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) believes Russia may be readying to mount a large-scale assault against Ukraine in July or August, South Korean member of parliament Lee Seong-kweun told reporters after the closed-door briefing.
"The timing of the additional deployment is that it could be as early as July or August," Lee said, adding the agency cited a new round-up of troops for the dispatch by North Korea and a recent visit to Pyongyang by a top Russian presidential security official as grounds for its assessment.
In return for North Korea sending artillery ammunition and missiles to Russia, Pyongyang is likely receiving technical advice on satellite launches and missile guidance systems, Lee said, citing the NIS briefing.
After months of silence, both North Korea and Russia have disclosed the deployment of North Korean troops and the role they played in Moscow's offensive against Ukraine to reclaim the Kursk region.
The two countries said the cooperation is based on the treaty signed by their leaders in June last year that includes a mutual defense pact.
(Reporting by Jack Kim, Ju-min ParkEditing by Ed Davies)
North Korea may deploy additional troops to Russia as early as July or August.
North Korea is continuing to supply arms, including artillery ammunition and missiles, to Russia.
In return for sending military supplies, North Korea is likely receiving technical advice on satellite launches and missile guidance systems.
The cooperation is based on a mutual defense pact signed by the leaders of North Korea and Russia in June of the previous year.
North Korean troops have been disclosed to have played a role in Moscow's offensive against Ukraine, particularly in efforts to reclaim the Kursk region.
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