Conflicts

North Korea is reportedly sending troops to fight in Ukraine, according to South Korea’s defense minister, who addressed the parliament following reports that Pyongyang had suffered casualties on the battlefield.

Kim Yong-hyun claimed that North Korea may have deployed soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces as part of an agreement between the two allied nations, signed in June.

This summer, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a "comprehensive partnership agreement," which includes mutual assistance "by all available means" in the event of an attack on either country.

"As Russia and North Korea have signed a mutual treaty akin to a military alliance, the possibility of such a deployment is highly likely" the South Korean minister told the audience.

"We assess that the occurrence of casualties among North Korean officers and soldiers in Ukraine is highly likely, considering various circumstances," he added.

North Korea has also been accused of supplying ammunition and shells to Russia after Vladimir Putin visited the Asian country in September 2023 to seek military assistance.

(QG - Source : The Independent / Yonhap/ Picture: © Unsplash)