U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo stated that North Korea deployed troops to Russia, emphasizing that it was North Korea, not Russia, that initiated the proposal.
He also said that no unusual movements have been detected from the North Korean military following South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on December 3. However, he emphasized that U.S. forces have heightened their vigilance to prepare for possible provocations from North Korea.
Admiral Paparo also addressed North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia, clarifying that it was North Korea, not Russia, that initiated the proposal.
Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California on December 7 (local time), Paparo said, “There has been no opportunistic provocation from North Korea so far, but we have strengthened our surveillance posture, considering the potential for provocations.”
Regarding the situation in South Korea after the martial law declaration, Paparo remarked, “Peaceful protests are taking place, and there is no fear of unrest between civilians and the military.” He added, “From a security standpoint, South Korea remains stable. The relationship between citizens and the military is also stable. Any signs of instability exist purely from a political perspective.”
Paparo, who is based in Hawaii, revealed that he first learned of the martial law declaration in the early morning of December 4 (local time) when his wife informed him that the phone was ringing. The call was from General Paul LaCamera, commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), who briefed him on the situation. He added that he, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q. Brown Jr., General LaCamera, and South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Kim Seung-kyum maintained ongoing communication during the incident.
During the forum, Admiral Paparo also addressed North Korea’s deployment of troops to Russia, clarifying that it was North Korea, not Russia, that initiated the proposal. “Russia did not request the troop deployment. It was North Korea that proposed it, and Russia accepted the offer,” he explained.
Paparo disclosed that, in return for sending troops to Russia, North Korea sought access to Russian ballistic missile reentry technology and submarine-related technology. Additionally, he revealed that North Korea is negotiating with Russia to receive MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets, with some agreements reportedly reached.
This is not the first time Paparo has made such claims. On November 19, during a discussion at the Brookings Institution, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, he suggested that North Korea could be seeking submarine and launch propulsion technology from Russia in exchange for providing military support, including troops and weapons. He stated at the time, “North Korea appears to be aiming to secure submarine technology and missile propulsion technology as compensation for deploying over 12,000 troops to Russia.”
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
