Ukrainian officials dropped a bombshell video. It seems to show North Korean recruits working in league with Russia. Ukraine claims Pyongyang is sending its troops into the nearly two-year-old Russia-Ukraine conflict. Are Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un working together against Ukraine?
The Associated Press (AP) couldn’t verify the video. A Ukrainian government group published it. The group claims a Russian soldier shot the footage in recent days. It didn’t say how members obtained the material.
The video seems to show North Korean soldiers standing in line to pick up bags, clothes, and other apparel from Russian servicemen. The location is unknown.
“We received this video from our own sources. We cannot provide additional [proof] from the sources who provided it to us due to security concerns,” says Ihor Solovey. He is head of the group that published the video.
“The video clearly shows North Korean citizens being given Russian uniforms under the direction of the Russian military,” he says. “For Ukraine, this video is important because it is the first video evidence that shows North Korea participating in the war on the side of Russia. Now not only with weapons and shells but also with personnel.”
The video’s release comes after a statement from the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov. He claimed that about 11,000 North Korean infantry were currently training in eastern Russia. He predicted they would be ready to join the fighting by November. Budanov reportedly said at least 2,600 would go to Russia’s Kursk region. Ukraine launched an attack there in August.
On Friday, South Korea’s spy agency alleged that North Korea sent 1,500 special operation forces to Russia this month to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine. During a meeting with Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev on Monday, Vice South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun condemned the alleged North Korean troop dispatch. He says it poses “a grave security threat” to South Korea and the international community.
If the video is genuine, the presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine concerns analysts. It would prove growing military ties between leaders Putin and Kim. In June, the two signed a strategic partnership treaty. The pact commits both countries to providing military help for each other. Russia has already used North Korean weapons in the Ukraine war.
As the nations rage and plot vain things, Christians can be assured that God is still on the throne. He holds the evil pursuits of nations or people in derision. (Psalm 2:1-5)
Reflecting on the video, Ukraine’s Solovey told AP, “This video is important as a signal to the world community that with two countries officially at war against Ukraine, we will need more support to repel this aggression.”
Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. — Psalm 34:14
