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Blinken calls Russia’s turn to North Korean soldiers a sign of desperation

November 1, 2024

North Korea has reportedly sent three senior generals, including a close ally of Kim Jong-un, to oversee thousands of North Korean troops in Russia. This marks an unprecedented level of military cooperation between the two countries amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

While most of the North Korean fighting force has yet to see direct combat, reports indicate some soldiers may already be on the front lines. At least eight North Korean officers were reported dead.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken estimates approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers are in Russia. He said 8,000 are stationed in the Kursk region near the Ukrainian border.

North Korea’s support for Russia reportedly dates back to the start of the full-scale invasion. North Korea’s foreign minister stated Kim Jong-un ordered the military to “invariably and powerfully support and assist the Russian army and the Russian people in their holy war.”

Kim Jong Un ordered to help the Russian army from the beginning of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine:

"From the very beginning of the special military operation, the honorable comrade Chairman of State Affairs [of the DPRK] Kim Jong-un has instructed that we should, without… https://t.co/ILlBsx3XQs pic.twitter.com/4nqZ5SKwsb
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) November 1, 2024

Russia hasn’t denied North Korea’s involvement. The country maintains that its military cooperation with Pyongyang is within legal bounds.

Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be increasingly reliant on North Korea for reinforcements as Russia experiences steep casualty rates. The country is reportedly seeing around 1,200 casualties per day in eastern Ukraine.

“Putin has been throwing more and more Russians into a meat grinder of his own making in Ukraine. Now he’s turning to North Korean troops, and that is a clear sign of weakness. Russia’s been suffering some 1,200 casualties a day, in the East, more than at any other time during the war,” Blinken said.

If deployed, Blinken stated, North Korean troops will be treated as “legitimate military targets.”

The potential deployment has raised concerns across Asia. The U.S. has urged China to discourage North Korea from deepening its military alliance with Russia. U.S. officials warn that stronger ties between Pyongyang and Moscow could further destabilize the region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned that North Korea’s involvement could test NATO and South Korea’s resolve. He suggested that limited resistance to North Korea’s role might encourage additional foreign troop deployments to Russia.
Putin oversees nuclear drills, signals readiness for rising threats

October 30, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Oct. 30, supervised a large-scale nuclear exercise, testing intercontinental ballistic missiles and other nuclear capabilities as Russia faces continued tensions with Western nations over the war in Ukraine. The exercise included ballistic missile launches from land-based installations and nuclear submarines in the Barents and Okhotsk Seas, alongside cruise missile exercises by long-range bombers, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

In his remarks, Putin underscored the importance of nuclear deterrence in securing Russia’s sovereignty.

“Russia confirms its fundamental position that the use of nuclear weapons is an extreme, exceptional measure to ensure state security,” Putin said. “It is the nuclear triad that continues to be a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty and security of our country, allows us to solve the problems of strategic deterrence, as well as maintain nuclear parity and the balance of power in the world as objective factors of global stability.”

Amid geopolitical tensions, Putin added that Russia would continue modernizing its nuclear forces, investing in increased accuracy, reduced launch times, and enhanced defenses.

“We are not going to get involved in a new arms race,” he said, “but we will maintain nuclear forces at the necessary sufficiency level.”

Defense Minister Andrei Belousov described the drills as a simulation of a retaliatory strike. Last month, Putin warned NATO that deeper Ukrainian strikes into Russian territory, enabled by Western-supplied long-range weapons, could escalate the conflict.

Russia recently revised its nuclear doctrine to consider large-scale attacks by non-nuclear allies of nuclear states as grounds for nuclear retaliation.

Russian officials called the exercises essential to national defense. Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the Russian State Duma’s International Committee, noted that Russia must be prepared for any potential aggression. The drills follow similar exercises earlier this year with Belarus, where Moscow has stationed tactical nuclear weapons.
Russia suffers 600,000 casualties, deploys North Korean troops: NATO

October 29, 2024

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reported that Russia has sustained over 600,000 military casualties since the start of its invasion of Ukraine. The losses prompted Moscow to deploy 10,000 North Korean troops to support its forces.

“The deployment of North Korean troops to Kursk is also a sign of Putin’s growing desperation,” Rutte said. “Over 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Putin’s war, and he is unable to sustain his assault on Ukraine without foreign support.”

He described the move as a “significant escalation” and a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Western intelligence, alongside Ukrainian and South Korean sources, tracked North Korea’s growing involvement. Ukraine first noted the presence of North Korean soldiers after a counterattack in Russian-held territory earlier this month, identifying North Korean casualties among the dead.

Reports indicate that North Korea has transported its personnel using civilian vehicles to avoid detection by Ukrainian and Western intelligence.

South Korean intelligence officials reported that North Korea plans to send additional personnel to aid Russian forces as Moscow faces persistent manpower shortfalls. North Korea has also reportedly supplied Russia with significant amounts of ammunition and missiles for use in Ukraine.

U.S. defense officials noted that the Pentagon would not impose limitations on the use of American-supplied weapons against North Korean soldiers assisting Russia. Analysts at the U.S. Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have suggested that Russia’s economic and manpower limitations are pressuring Moscow to explore unconventional methods of recruitment and sustainment for its campaign in Ukraine.

NATO’s casualty figure aligns with recent estimates from the Pentagon and Ukrainian sources, placing Russian combat losses at over 654,000 as of early October.

Reports indicate that many of those killed or wounded come from Russian regions with large ethnic minority populations, including Bashkortostan and Tatarstan.
Elon Musk’s secret conversations with Putin raise security concerns: Report

October 25, 2024
New details indicate Elon Musk has been in regular communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Journal reports that Musk’s conversations with Putin have included personal, business and geopolitical topics. Those conversations raised questions about national security due to Musk’s role in U.S. space operations and his increasing political influence.

These interactions have reportedly been confirmed by U.S., European and Russian officials.

One discussion last year reportedly involved a request from Putin. The request asked Musk not to activate his Starlink satellite internet service over Taiwan. This was allegedly as a favor to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Musk’s response remains undisclosed, though his international dealings are considered particularly sensitive given his influence in defense technology.

Initially, Musk’s Starlink service supported Ukraine with thousands of internet terminals to aid communication in conflict zones. However, by late 2022, Musk restricted Starlink’s use for offensive operations. This came after Ukraine sought to employ it in a Crimea-bound drone mission. Musk cited concerns over escalation, reportedly following communications from Russian officials suggesting potential nuclear retaliation.

Musk has also become a notable supporter of Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. He has pledged millions monthly to a pro-Trump super PAC. Trump has indicated Musk would lead a “government efficiency commission” if Trump were to win, further positioning Musk as a key ally and backer.

Musk’s growing role in U.S. politics has prompted questions about his alignment with American interests, given his access to sensitive government contracts and his influence over critical U.S. space and satellite technologies. Musk has not publicly responded to recent reports.
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Russia spreading lies about US hurricanes to win war in Ukraine: Study

October 24, 2024
More lies and conspiracy theories are reportedly coming to Americans from the Kremlin. Russia has long been accused of sowing division and now it’s being discovered that those efforts appear to be ramping up ahead of the Nov. 5 U.S. presidential election.

A study released on Thursday, Oct. 24, shows Russia has been spreading misinformation about recent hurricanes in the United States and the federal government’s response. It’s reportedly part of an ongoing effort to meddle in the country’s political debates.

Researchers say that Russian state media, social media accounts and websites are all involved. They said the groups are trying to frame the federal response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton in a negative light. They believe the goal is to show American leaders as incompetent or corrupt.

The London-based organization behind the study said this is how Moscow disinformation groups infiltrate U.S. households, by taking advantage of polarizing issues to cast doubt on the American government and each other.

Melanie Smith, the director of the research group, said disinformation actors capitalize on natural disasters by “simply pouring gasoline on fires that already exist.”

The false claims nclude false assertions that the Federal Emergency Mangement Agency (FEMA) is diverting funds to aid migrants and conspiracy theories of government weather manipulation.

The conspiracy theories may have serious consequences as well. One man who was arrested for threatening FEMA workers in North Carolina said he was motivated by false social media claims that the agency was withholding supplies from Hurricane Helene victims.

Analysts believe that Russia’s war against Ukraine is the main motivator for spreading lies. They note that if Russia can convince enough Americans to oppose U.S. support of Kyiv, Moscow’s path to victory in Ukraine gets much easier.
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Ukrainian forces destroy Russian unit accused of war crimes in Kursk

October 24, 2024

Ukrainian forces have reportedly destroyed a unit from Russia’s 155th Marine Brigade, a military group that has been accused of war crimes during the ongoing conflict. The Ukrainian military confirmed the incident, which took place in the Kursk region, where Russian forces have suffered heavy losses.

The 155th Marine Brigade, part of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, has been accused of executing Ukrainian prisoners of war and committing other atrocities throughout the conflict.

Ukrainian officials reported that personnel from the brigade were engaged in combat with Ukrainian paratroopers, resulting in significant casualties among Russian troops.

Russian military gunned down nine more Ukrainian prisoners of war in the Kursk region, as reported by DeepState.

On 10 October, Russians undressed and shot at point-blank the drone operators in the area of Zelyonyi Shlyah. The Ukrainians surrendered according to the rules of… pic.twitter.com/pduBycWQF2
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) October 13, 2024

The destruction of the brigade occurred near the village of Sudzha, which Ukrainian forces reportedly seized during their offensive into Russian territory.

Kyiv’s 95th Airborne Assault Brigade took credit for the operation, stating it had “brutally avenged all the innocent victims of Russian aggression.”

Footage and images of dead Russian soldiers from the battle has been circulating online, though their authenticity has not been independently verified. The Russian Defense Ministry has not yet commented on the reports.

The Kursk region has seen intensified fighting in recent weeks, with Ukrainian forces staging multiple incursions since August, reportedly gaining control of hundreds of square miles of territory.

Russia’s 155th Marine Brigade has been linked to other controversial incidents during the conflict, including a widely shared video purportedly showing a soldier standing beside the severed head of a Ukrainian combatant. Ukraine’s prosecutor-general has opened an investigation into the incident.
Pentagon confirms North Korean military presence in Russia

October 23, 2024

The U.S. government confirmed that members of the North Korean military are now in Russia, though their exact mission remains unclear. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revealed that while there is evidence of North Korean forces on Russian soil, their specific role is still being evaluated.

This marks the first official U.S. confirmation following earlier accusations from Ukraine and South Korea that North Korea was sending troops to assist Russia in its war against Ukraine. NATO and allied nations are now closely monitoring the situation.

“What exactly they’re doing is left to be seen,” Austin said.

He added that if North Korean troops are directly involved in combat, it would represent a serious escalation with global implications, affecting not just Europe but also the Indo-Pacific region.

The deployment of North Korean forces raises further questions about the state of Russia’s military. Austin suggested this move could signal deeper vulnerabilities in Russia’s war effort, as Moscow increasingly relies on external allies like Iran and North Korea for support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously shared intelligence that up to 12,000 North Korean troops could be joining Russian forces.
India’s Modi tells Putin to end war in Ukraine peacefully and ‘quickly’

October 22, 2024
As Russia hosts 22 international leaders who represent 45% of the world’s population for a global finance summit, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi is using the opportunity to call for an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Modi told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, Oct. 22, he wanted the war to end peacefully and “quickly” as the two met at the annual BRICS Summit.

Additionally, Modi revealed that he was in “constant touch” with Putin over the war in Ukraine. New Delhi is towing a fine line with the warring factions, as it’s promised humanitarian support to Kyiv while failing to openly condemn Russia’s invasion.

Modi visited Moscow in July and Kyiv in August, attempting to spur peace talks between the countries. Complicating India’s position even more is the fact India and China are the two largest purchasers of Russian oil in the world.

When questioned by reporters at the summit, Putin maintained that Moscow would not give away the four regions of eastern Ukraine it currently holds. The Kremlin leader says those areas are now part of Russia and wants Moscow’s long-term security interests considered by Europe.

Meanwhile, Russian sources acknowledged there were increasing talks in Moscow of a possible cease-fire agreement. However, nothing is set in stone as they wait for the results of the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5.

Putin claimed the West now realizes Russia will win the war in Ukraine but is open to discussion on draft cease-fire agreements reached in Turkey in 2022.
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S. Korea could deploy troops to Ukraine to help against N. Koreans: Report

October 21, 2024
South Korea could reportedly send troops and intelligence personnel to Ukraine following revelations North Korea may have deployed soldiers and plans to send thousands more to fight alongside Russian forces on the front lines of its war against Ukraine. South Korean media reported on Monday, Oct. 21, the military may send intelligence officers to provide information on Pyongyang’s military tactics, doctrine and operations.

South Korean personnel in Ukraine would potentially interrogate or interpret for North Korean soldiers if they were to be taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces.

South Korea’s Defense Ministry also acknowledged on Monday that it is considering sending weapons to Kyiv. Seoul has already helped Ukraine with humanitarian aid as the war has dragged on.

The reports come after South Korean intelligence says North Korea plans on sending 12,000 special forces to assist Russia. South Korea’s Defense Ministry said that it talked with the United States on Monday. The White House claimed it could not confirm reports of North Korean troops in Russia but says that it “would mark a dangerous development” in the war.

Pyongyang is neither denying nor confirming accusations of troops deployments in Russia.

The Kremlin on Monday refused to answer any questions about North Korean soldiers’ role in Russia’s war against Ukraine, saying, “We see a lot of contradictory information” from Seoul and the United States.
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South Korean intelligence agency confirms North troops sent to Russia

October 18, 2024

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has reported that North Korea sent 1,500 special forces to Russia to assist in its war against Ukraine, with thousands more expected to follow. These troops, transported by Russian naval ships between Oct. 8 and 13, are currently stationed at military bases in Vladivostok, Ussuriysk, Khabarovsk and Blagoveshchensk.

Intelligence suggests they will be deployed to the front lines once their training is complete.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that North Korean involvement could escalate the war into a broader crisis, with reports indicating up to 10,000 additional soldiers are preparing for deployment.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, in an emergency meeting, labeled the troop deployment a “grave security threat” to the region and the world.

This move is part of a growing military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang, which signed a mutual defense pact earlier this year. Along with troops, North Korea has reportedly provided Russia with artillery, missiles, and other weaponry.

NATO and U.S. officials are watching the situation closely, expressing concern that North Korea may be receiving much-needed food, economic aid, and technological support in return.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have consistently denied any arms deals between them.