According to US, South Korean, and Ukrainian intelligence officials, North Korea has been providing a sizable supply of conventional arms to Russia. In fact, it sent about 10, 000 to 12, 000 soldiers to Russia next fall.
The National Intelligence Service of South Korea stated in a speech on February 27 that it was looking into how many additional forces North Korea has to send to Russia. According to South Korean media, there are between 1, 000 and 3, 000 recently deployed North Korean troops.
South Korea, the US, and some believe that North Korea is offering Russia financial and military aid in exchange for providing arms and personnel. Some researchers predict that North Korea will probably increase its support for Russia in order to obtain the greatest possible return from Russia before the conflict is over.
Some observers speculate that Shoigu’s vacation may be related to preparations for Kim’s Russia vacation. Putin had invited Kim to travel to Moscow last year during the conference in Pyongyang.
When Shoigu, then-defense minister, traveled to North Korea in 2023, Kim gave him a personalized tour of a North Korean hands museum in a way that some outsiders viewed as a sales pitch.
According to North Korea’s state advertising, Shoigu and Kim met in North Korea again in September 2024 and discussed expanding assistance.
Kim reportedly oversaw the previous day’s test launch of new anti-aircraft weapons, according to KCNA before on Friday. Kim was quoted as calling the missiles “another big military system” for North Korea.
The US and South Korean army ‘ annual education, which North Korea views as an invasion training, came to an end on the same day that North Korea’s fifth weapon tests action this year came to an end.
The Allies ‘ first significant joint military exercise since Trump’s inauguration in January were the 11-day Freedom Shield training.
North Korea frequently uses its own weapons tests and ferocious speech to counteract big US-South Korean martial drills. On March 10, shortly after the Freedom Shield instruction for this year, North Korea launched a number of nuclear missiles into the water.