North Korea has reportedly sent workers to aid in reconstruction efforts in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, following its earlier military dispatch to Russia, according to a report by Radio Free Asia (RFA) on October 22.
The Center for National Resistance (CNR), a Ukrainian special operations division, told RFA that “North Korean workers have been involved in construction projects in regions temporarily occupied by Russia in Ukraine.” These projects include work on specialized engineering for air defense structures, according to CNR.
CNR also revealed that some North Korean laborers are working in the Donetsk region under Russian control, based on intelligence from secret sources. “Most of these workers were previously employed on construction sites in Russia and have now been temporarily relocated to the occupied territories, returning to Russia after their assignments,” CNR stated.
The dispatch of North Korean workers appears to be part of a new agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, CNR speculated.
The agreement likely stems from their summit in September last year, where Russia reportedly persuaded North Korea to establish diplomatic missions in Donetsk and Luhansk. However, CNR noted that the primary goal of these missions is not economic cooperation or tourism, but rather to facilitate the deployment of North Korean laborers to occupied territories for construction work.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has also been assisting in the recruitment of foreign laborers, including North Koreans, and supporting the establishment of foreign businesses in the occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk since the establishment of diplomatic offices in July. However, these claims have yet to be substantiated by concrete evidence.
Regarding North Korea’s military involvement in Russia, CNR said, “The presence of North Korean troops in the region came as a surprise even to our secret intelligence agents, suggesting that the North Korean military is taking significant measures to avoid contact with locals and operate covertly.”
The CNR is working alongside Ukraine’s intelligence agency (MID) to track North Korean individuals in the occupied territories. CNR also claimed that Russia has organized a “Special Buryat Battalion” composed of North Korean personnel.
At a press briefing on October 22, U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel commented on reports of North Korea’s military dispatch to Russia, stating, “I don’t have anything new to offer on that. We are continuing to look into the reports that the DPRK has sent soldiers to fight alongside Russia.”
Patel added that “if it’s true that DPRK soldiers are joining Putin’s war against Ukraine, it certainly would mark a dangerous and highly concerning development as it relates to this.”
He explained that the U.S. is going to continue to consult with its allies and partners on the implications of such a “dramatic move.”
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
