North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to Russia to support it in its war against Ukraine. However, according to military analysts, these units are not Kim Jong-un’s elite forces, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Intelligence reports indicate that most of these soldiers are young, inexperienced soldiers in their early stages of service. Their appearance suggests possible malnutrition problems typical of North Korea. In addition, they have been trained in mountainous conditions, which may not be effective for fighting on the plains of Ukraine. South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun called them “mercenaries with cannon fodder”.

According to US, South Korean and Ukrainian estimates, about 3,000 DPRK soldiers are already in Russia and have been spotted in the Kursk region near the border with Ukraine. Observers suggest that this move could be the beginning of a possible deployment of more experienced North Korean units if Moscow needs new reinforcements.

Analysts believe that the role of this military may be to provide technical support and data collection, including monitoring the use of drones. If North Korea plays an active combat role, it will be a major escalation of the conflict. Currently, their presence in the Kursk region is positioned as a defensive measure, says analyst Samuel Cranney-Evans.

Earlier, EU diplomat Josep Borrell stressed that cooperation between North Korea and Russia in the military sphere violates UN resolutions, and this could lead to new international sanctions.