EXCERPT: Ukraine is probing North Korea’s alleged support for Russia, investigating arms and troop involvement as a potential crime of aggression.
Ukrainian prosecutors announced on Friday an investigation into North Korea’s alleged support for Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine, citing possible crimes of aggression.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, North Korean officials could face charges for reportedly supplying arms, training Russian military personnel, and potentially deploying their forces directly in the conflict.
“We are documenting and collecting evidence of all possible aspects of such involvement as part of the core proceeding on the crime of aggression,” the office said in a statement. Evidence is being collected on these and other alleged involvements as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
Reports from Ukraine’s military intelligence, South Korea, and several Western countries indicate that North Korean troops trained in Russia have been deployed to the Kursk region, a Russian area close to the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian forces launched a significant incursion into this region in August. The Ukrainian intelligence agency suggests that approximately 12,000 North Korean troops, including 500 officers and three generals, are currently in Russia, with military training taking place at five bases.
While the Kremlin has previously dismissed such reports as “fake news,” Russian President Vladimir Putin recently refrained from denying the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. Meanwhile, the Dutch Defence Ministry confirmed that its intelligence indicates an additional 1,500 North Korean troops are anticipated to join Russian combat operations in the near term.
Melissa Enoch
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