Defense Express assesses threat of North Korean soldiers reinforcing Russian army

He shared his opinions on Espreso TV.

“North Korea's involvement in the Russian-Ukrainian war poses a serious threat. Both the Russian and North Korean regimes are inadequate, which makes such plans possible. It's worth noting that the North Korean army is the fifth largest in the world, with about 1.3 million personnel, including around 1.1 million ground troops. Many of these forces can be rapidly deployed, including airborne units and special forces,” he explained.

Riabykh also suggested ways the North Korean military could be involved in the Russian army.

"At first, I would rule out the possibility of these units appearing on the front line right away. We should consider that North Korean troops might initially be deployed for specific tasks, like logistics and security. For example, they could help protect certain sections of the Russian-Ukrainian border, freeing up Russian units to be sent to other areas.

In the future, after working out the necessary procedures, including language differences, they might gradually be used in some areas on the front line. While this isn’t something to rule out, we need to closely monitor the situation and respond to any changes. Right now, this process is still in its early stages, but it is a concerning trend, as South Korean intelligence has indicated," the military expert said.

• On October 8, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun warned that North Korea could send its troops to Ukraine in support of Russia.