North Korea Deploys 5,000 Builders to Russia Amid Global Tensions

Since September, North Korea has dispatched approximately 5,000 construction personnel to Russia to assist with «infrastructure reconstruction,» as reported by a South Korean lawmaker following a briefing from the country’s intelligence agency.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been strengthened by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, gaining essential support from Moscow after sending troops to collaborate with Russian forces.

South Korean legislator Lee Seong-kweun informed the press that «around 5,000 construction troops from North Korea have been gradually arriving in Russia since September and are anticipated to be utilized for infrastructure projects.»

He also noted that «evidence of ongoing training and the selection of personnel in preparation for further troop deployments has been observed.»

According to the intelligence agency, it is estimated that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed near the border between Russia and Ukraine, as per Lee’s statement.

South Korean estimates suggest that at least 600 North Korean soldiers have lost their lives in the conflict in Ukraine, with many more injured.

Analysts indicate that North Korea is receiving financial help, military technology, and essentials such as food and energy from Russia in exchange for the deployment of troops.

This arrangement has enabled North Korea to circumvent stringent international sanctions imposed on it due to its nuclear and missile initiatives, which were previously key leverage points for the United States.

Since the breakdown of Kim’s 2019 summit with then-U.S. President Donald Trump concerning denuclearization and the easing of sanctions, Pyongyang has consistently asserted its status as an «irreversible» nuclear power.

North Korea did not respond to Trump’s recent proposal for a meeting with Kim; instead, Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui traveled to Moscow, where she and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to enhance their bilateral relationship.

Lee mentioned that Seoul’s intelligence agency is of the opinion that Kim remains open to dialogue with Washington «and will pursue communication when the circumstances are favorable.»

While the anticipated meeting with Trump did not occur, «numerous indications suggest» that Pyongyang «has been preparing for potential discussions with the U.S. out of the public eye,» according to the lawmaker.

In September, Kim was seen with Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin at an elaborate military parade in Beijing, highlighting his newly elevated status in the international arena.

An international monitoring group, the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, revealed in a report last month that North Korea plans to send «40,000 laborers to Russia, including several delegations of IT specialists.»

Under UN sanctions, North Korean workers are banned from earning income abroad.