Additional Coverage:
- Ukrainian intelligence details the equipment it says Moscow is arming North Korean troops with, from ‘Dragunov’ sniper rifles to thermal imagers (newsbreak.com)
North Korean Troops Prepare to Join Ukraine War
Intelligence reports indicate that Russia has supplied approximately 8,000 North Korean troops stationed in Russia’s Kursk region with an arsenal of weapons, including mortars, rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, anti-tank missiles, and night vision equipment.
These weapons mirror those used by Russian soldiers, such as the AK-12 assault rifle and the SVD sniper rifle. Videos have emerged showing North Korean troops receiving Russian gear at training compounds.
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy has urged Western allies to provide long-range weapons to counter the threat posed by these troops. He believes preemptive strikes could be necessary to prevent them from joining the conflict.
US officials anticipate the North Korean forces will enter the war shortly. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that the troops have received training from Russian forces in artillery, drone operations, and infantry tactics.