British intelligence reports that North Korea has transferred to Russia about 10,000 of its soldiers, some of which have already been located in the Kursk region. This is the first known case of direct involvement of North Korean soldiers in the Russian-Ukrainian war, which raises many questions about the future partnership of the two states.
The military partnership of Russia and the DPRK was predominantly limited to the exchange of weapons. Instead, Russia has promised diplomatic support for Kim Jong -in, in particular during international sanctions. However, a new stage of this cooperation - the transfer of the DPRK personnel - is a significant escalation. According to the British Defense Ministry, Russia needs new reserves, and North Korea is ready to provide them despite numerous international prohibitions.
However, experts from the UK warn of significant difficulties that both parties will face due to lack of joint military experience. The main problems include the language barrier, differences in command systems and the complexity of adaptation of the North Korean military to Russian equipment. In addition, due to lack of experience of joint exercises, the North Korean military may have difficulty in operational compatibility.
British intelligence believes that for Russia the involvement of the DPRK troops is a symbol of the final support of Kim's regime from Moscow. This, in turn, demonstrates that both countries are ready to violate international norms by pursuing their own strategic goals.
The use of the DPRK's military support in the war against Ukraine is likely to be an important test for the newly created alliance, and the complexity of compatibility of the military can significantly affect their efficiency in combat.
