Russia Trains North Korean Forces with Advanced Weaponry Amid Concerns from the West

The Russian Defense Ministry has released footage of North Korean troops training with advanced weapons, raising alarm within the West and South Korea. The video shows training on using rifles, grenade launchers, and modern combat tactics. The collaboration between Russia and North Korea offers the latter critical combat experience. The U.S. condemns this cooperation as it extends Russia’s ability to sustain its war efforts in Ukraine.

Russia’s Defense Ministry has recently unveiled footage capturing North Korean soldiers engaging in training routines with state-of-the-art Russian weaponry. This includes AK-12 assault rifles, Dragunov sniper rifles, and specially modified Vepr-12 shotguns aimed at aerial targets, as reported by Business Insider. The development has garnered significant concern from Western nations and South Korea, given the implications of North Korean forces acquiring expertise in contemporary combat tactics and equipment, especially concerning drones.

The training videos notably depict soldiers practicing trench clearing operations, grenade handling techniques, and the usage of RPG-7s, a prevalent rocket-propelled grenade launcher in the Russian arsenal. Ukraine’s intelligence suggests that this weaponry aligns with supplies reportedly sent to North Korea by Russia in late 2024. The footage allegedly shows the North Korean combatants stationed near Kursk, although this assertion remains unverified.

This revelation coincides with Moscow’s recent acknowledgment—after a lengthy period of silence—that North Korean troops are actively participating in the conflict against Ukraine. Western officials express worries that this involvement could furnish North Korean personnel with critical combat experience, particularly in the realms of modern armaments and drone strategies. Despite experiencing high casualty rates and initial challenges, captured intelligence indicates that North Korean forces are becoming increasingly proficient.

Moreover, there are claims that Russia is offering military technologies to North Korea in return for deploying North Korean soldiers to bolster their operations in Ukraine. Reports from Ukraine initially indicated that approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers had been moved into Russia, while estimates from Seoul suggest a slightly lower figure of around 11,000. These troops are believed to have played a pivotal role in supporting Russia’s successful efforts to reclaim much of the territory held by Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast.

The U.S. State Department has openly condemned North Korea’s military involvement, asserting that it serves to prolong Russia’s conflict with Ukraine. The situation continues to escalate as investigations have uncovered that North Korea maintains a military training facility that simulates urban environments reflective of Seoul and other South Korean cities. This facility is reportedly situated in Koksan County, North Hwanghae Province, a mere 65 kilometers from the Demilitarized Zone, as confirmed by South Korean lawmaker Yoo Young-won, who recently interacted with North Korean prisoners of war in Ukraine.

In summary, the training of North Korean forces with advanced Russian weaponry presents significant geopolitical implications. It underscores the collaborative military efforts between Russia and North Korea, amid concerns from Western nations about the potential escalation of combat capabilities. This evolving partnership could alter the dynamics of the conflict in Ukraine while simultaneously improving North Korea’s military proficiency in modern warfare tactics, particularly involving drone technology.

Original Source: euromaidanpress.com