The head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, announced the arrival of the first North Korean troops in the Kursk region on October 23. In response, South Korea is considering sending a group of specialists to Ukraine to monitor the North Korean forces, reports the Yonhap news agency.
In light of this, The War Zone analysts explored what tasks South Korean military personnel will undertake and in which operations they may be involved.
According to reports, North Korea is sending up to 12,000 soldiers, including elite special forces units, to support Russian forces in the region. The specific tasks that the North Korean troops will perform are not yet fully clear, but it is likely that they will be involved in the protection of key facilities and strengthening defenses in the Kursk direction.
North Korean special units are known for their rigorous training, which includes both counterinsurgency operations and conducting sabotage missions. These skills could be utilized in active combat conditions, especially considering the ongoing attacks from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to South Korean media, North Korea has sent its pilots to Vladivostok and other cities in Russia's Far East in anticipation of a possible deployment of their troops.
While the exact objectives of this presence remain unclear, one theory suggests that North Korean pilots are undergoing training on Russian Su-25 attack aircraft.
If South Korean military personnel are sent to Ukraine, they will be able to observe the actions of North Korean special forces and analyze their combat capabilities.
Additionally, in the event of deployment, the group is expected to consist of personnel from reconnaissance units who could analyze North Korean combat tactics or participate in interrogations of captured North Korean soldiers.
Regarding the pilots from North Korea who will be training on Su-25 attack aircraft, the publication notes that in response, Seoul may send military specialists and also provide medium-range surface-to-air missile systems "Chhunggung-II" (M-SAM), artillery systems, and K2 tanks.
It is worth noting that Kim Yo-jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and head of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, referred to Ukraine and South Korea as "unruly dogs raised by the U.S."