'Russia to sign DPRK-like agreement': expert on Iran's possible participation in war against Ukraine

He expressed this opinion in an interview with Antin Borkovskyi, host of the Studio West program on Espreso TV.

"Putin seems to be responding to the Kursk region asymmetrically, paradoxically enough. That is, a metaphor is possible, that in response to the fact that Ukrainian troops have entered the Kursk region and are holding 600 square kilometers there, as of yesterday, Putin could have invaded Estonia to further escalate the situation. But he took a similar step, in fact, showing the whole West that he is breaking the old concept of relations with the DPRK, all his past participation in sanctions against the DPRK, and moving to full-scale cooperation, making it clear that Iran could also find itself in this position in the future. Because Moscow has signed an agreement on strategic cooperation with Pyongyang. And now Peskov, just yesterday, commenting on this, said that no one should be concerned about this, it is Russia's own business how to act within the framework of such a strategic agreement, and whatever we do is reasonable and legal. Of course, this is not the case, but the Kremlin presents it that way," Morozov said.

This did not happen at the BRICS summit, but Putin promises that the same agreement will be signed with Iran as with the DPRK, and then the Kremlin will be able to present Iranian teams on its territory, the political scientist says.

"In Russia, they will explain it as military exercises, training, they say, they are mastering some equipment. At the same time, the Kremlin will say that yes, there are no restrictions, and they can participate in military operations against Ukraine. Yes, this is an escalation, this is undoubtedly a demonstrative step by Putin to show that there are no peace talks, no truce, no need to bother with a truce, our intentions are as follows, we will continue to create problems, including for international security, by literally visually constructing this axis: Russia-DPRK-Iran. This is, of course, madness. But this is the Kremlin's clear logic now," he summarized.

Military cooperation between Russia and the DPRK

On October 4, the Kyiv Post reported that 20 soldiers were killed in a missile strike on occupied Donetsk, including six North Korean military personnel advising the Russian army.

The South Korean Defense Minister warned on October 8 that North Korea may deploy troops to Ukraine in support of Russia.

At an October 17 press conference in Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed Russia's plan to train 10,000 North Korean soldiers for combat in Ukraine.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence, later reported that 11,000 North Korean infantrymen are training in eastern Russia, preparing for deployment to Ukraine. He added that the first unit of 2,600 soldiers is en route to Kursk, where Ukraine has established a stronghold.

Ukraine has since shared intelligence with NATO about North Korea’s military involvement and requested data from alliance members.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the participation of the North Korean military in the war against Ukraine on the side of Russia would mean a “significant escalation.” 

Later, it was reported that South Korea was considering providing Ukraine with military and intelligence assistance in response to North Korea's sending its military to fight on the side of Russia.

The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine reported that on October 23, the North Korean military was spotted in the Kursk region.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that according to intelligence, the first North Korean military would be used by Russia in combat zones on October 27-28.

On October 25, South Korea's intelligence agency announced that North Korea plans to send a second batch of its military personnel to Russia, totaling up to 10,000 people.

Later, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in the Kursk region of Russia, noting that this was “a significant escalation in the DPRK's ongoing involvement in Russia's illegal war.”

During the Ukraine-Northern Europe summit, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the Russian army is already using North Korean soldiers on the territory of Ukraine.