RUSSIA/NORTH KOREA: Russian state-run media has reported that North Korea has offered 100,000 “volunteer” troops to help mobilise Russian forces to combat and win the Ukraine crisis.
New York Post declares Russian defence analyst Igor Korotchenko told Russian Channel One, “There are reports that 100,000 North Korean volunteers are prepared to come and take part in the conflict.”
The Russian expert did not spare a moment to sing praises of North Korea’s robust military and its “wealth of experience with counter-battery warfare“. He also highlighted that Russia should wholeheartedly embrace the magnificent power of North Korea’s military and its counter-battery skill.
Korotchenko was also quoted saying, “If North Korea expresses a desire to meet its international duty to fight against Ukrainian fascism, we should let them.”
Korotchenko’s remarks come at a crucial time after reports suggested that several Russian states were deploying so-called “volunteer” forces to aid in the national aggression against supposed “Ukrainian fascism”, a move that was considered by Western analysts to be significant proof of Putin’s incapacity as a leader to garner national support and mobilise his military forces.
In a Q/A session at the Aspen Security Forum held in Colorado last month, UK’s MI6 Chief Richard Moore confirmed Putin’s lack of political capital and asserted that Russia’s war effort was “about to run out of steam”.
He was further noted saying, “We assess that the Russians will increasingly find it difficult to supply manpower [and] material over the next few weeks.”
North Korea boasts of a grand military, the fourth largest in the world, with 1.3 active personnel. It has an additional 600,000 personnel as reserve soldiers, according to New York-based Council for Foreign Relations.
South Korean Daily Newspaper NK reported that North Korea has also offered manpower and other aid to Russia to help rebuild post-war Ukraine.
The newspaper cited Russian sources saying that Kim Jong-un is planning to send more than 1,000 workers to the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine if Russia emerges victorious.
