NIS: "Russia to Launch Major Offensive in Ukraine in July-August… North Korea Planning Additional Troop Dispatches"

"North Korea Selecting Soldiers for Additional Deployment"

The National Intelligence Service predicted on the 26th that "North Korea is likely to send additional troops to Russia as early as July or August."

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Park Sun-won and People Power Party lawmaker Lee Sung-kwon met with reporters that day and said the NIS reported this during a policy briefing at the National Assembly Intelligence Committee.

Rep. Lee said, "North Korea dispatched 11,000 troops in October last year and sent an additional 4,000 earlier this year," adding, "Russian authorities also announced that 6,000 more construction troops were deployed for the rebuilding of Kursk."

The NIS cited as the basis for its projection the fact that "When Sergei Shoigu, the secretary of Russia, visited North Korea during the first dispatch, the military deployment agreement was carried out just a month after, and recently, North Korea began selection processes for recruiting soldiers to be sent overseas."

The agency added, "According to Ukrainian intelligence authorities, Russia could launch a major offensive in July or August."

The NIS also stated, "It appears that North Korea has supported Russia with about 10 million shells, delivered via ships and military aircraft, and that Russia in return has provided technical consulting such as air defense missile jamming equipment, space launch vehicle engines, and improvements to drone missile guidance capabilities."

The agency reported, "We will focus efforts on minimizing the impact of North Korea's additional troop deployments on the Korean Peninsula and, as North Korea-Russia ties deepen, will manage relations with both North Korea and Russia while establishing measures to maximize national interests regarding the Ukraine war."

Baek Seong-su, Reporter baebae@hankyung.com