South Korean intel: Russia is training North Korean forces to use drones and other military equipment

Notes from a closed-door intelligence briefing in Seoul

Cho Tae-yong, now Director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, in 2020. (Iamjhhan)

The director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service, Cho Tae-yong, has new intelligence on what the North Koreans are doing in Russia. He held a closed briefing with members of the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee in Seoul on Wednesday.

What did they discuss? A source with knowledge of the matter shared some highlights with me. And it’s clear that they are preparing to join Vladimir Putin’s unjust war.

Remember, South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) was the first to sound alarm bells that North Korean soldiers were heading to Russia. Ukrainian officials then told me they have intelligence that North Korean fighters would go to Kursk, the part of Western Russia that Ukrainian forces began occupying in August.

Here is what the NIS has assessed:

• North Korea has currently sent about 3,000 soldiers to Russia, apparently in two batches. They have been dispersed to several facilities for training.

• The number of forces is expected to increase to 10,000 fighters by December.

• Russian instructors have said that North Korean soldiers lack knowledge and understanding of modern combat, including how to operate drones. What they do have is excellent “physical and moral training.”

• Special training of military equipment and machinery, including drones, is now underway.

• There are indications that the Russian Armed Forces have been turning to interpreters with Korean language skills.

• In North Korea, authorities have not informed citizens that troops are being sent to Russia. Still, rumors of an “assault corps” have spread across the country.

• North Korea’s authorities are also allegedly relocating the families of fighters sent to Russia. They are going to “specially designated locations.”

• North Korea is expected to receive “commensurate economic remuneration” from Russia — about $2,000 (2.76 million won) per month, per soldier.

• It is believed that once Putin and Kim Jong Un signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty in June, discussions about the prospect of sending Korean People’s Army fighters to Russia began shortly thereafter.

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