The Russian Embassy in North Korea announced on its official Facebook on November 14 that it is raising funds to purchase vehicles for use in Russia’s Kursk region, where North Korean troops are reportedly deployed.
In a post titled “Koreyets (Koreans) Heads to Kursk,” the embassy stated, “The vehicles purchased with last spring’s donations are currently delivering food, water, and transporting the wounded and deceased at the front lines.” It added that a new fundraiser is underway as these vehicles can no longer fulfill their tasks.
The embassy shared an image of an SUV with “ВАРЯГ(Varyag)” inscribed on it, pledging to add “Koreyets” next to the logo. They asked donors to include the term “Koreyets” with their transfers, providing bank details alongside.
Both “ВАРЯГ” and “Koreyets” are names of warships sunk in the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 at Incheon’s Jemulpo Port, likely chosen to symbolize current North Korea-Russia military cooperation amid the Ukraine conflict.
While the embassy framed the appeal as support for Russian forces, it is suggested the funds or vehicles could also support North Korean troops now stationed in Russia.
According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, these North Korean soldiers are reportedly already engaged in combat. U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel also confirmed on November 12 that North Korean troops in Kursk have started combat operations alongside Russian forces.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
