South Korean intelligence identifies North Korean engineer observing Russian missile launches in Ukraine

NHK reported the information.

South Korea’s national intelligence service used a facial recognition program to analyze a photo, reportedly taken in the Donetsk region, showing a delegation that accompanied North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a visit to a weapons factory last August.

The program found an 80% match between the individual in the Ukraine photo and the engineer seen accompanying Kim at the missile production plant.

According to South Korean intelligence, the photo was taken at the site of North Korean ballistic missile launches over Ukraine, confirming that Pyongyang has sent its specialists to aid Russian forces in Ukraine. These engineers help Russia use North Korean weapons for attacks on Ukraine while gathering data to improve their own missile production technologies.

South Korean intelligence sees this confirmation of the engineer’s presence at Russian positions as further evidence of North Korea’s direct involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea

On October 4, Kyiv Post reported that a missile strike in the occupied Donetsk region killed 20 soldiers, including six North Korean military personnel who were consulting Russian forces.

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

At a press conference in Brussels on October 17, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Russia is planning to train 10,000 North Korean soldiers for deployment to the war in Ukraine.

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, reported that around 11,000 North Korean infantrymen are already stationed in eastern Russia, undergoing training to participate in combat operations in Ukraine. He noted that a first unit of 2,600 soldiers is set to move to Kursk, where Ukraine has established a foothold.

Ukraine later provided NATO with intelligence on North Korean military involvement in the war, requesting further data from alliance members.

On October 19, it was revealed that North Korea has sent 1,500 special forces to Russian territory. However, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that he could not yet confirm North Korea’s deployment of troops to assist Russia in the war against Ukraine.