North Korea to Send Army Builders, Deminers to Russia’s Kursk Region

North Korea is sending military builders and deminers to Russia’s Kursk region to assist in reconstruction after Ukraine’s incursions. The announcement follows meetings between Sergei Shoigu and Kim Jong Un, indicating a strengthening of ties between the two nations amid ongoing conflict.

In a notable development, North Korea is set to dispatch military builders and sappers to Russia’s Kursk region for restoration efforts following Ukraine’s incursions. This announcement was made by Russian news outlets quoting Moscow’s security chief on June 17 during his visit to Pyongyang. Sergei Shoigu, who heads Russia’s Security Council, met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, marking their second meeting in a short span of less than two weeks.

Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, North Korea has increasingly allied itself with Russia, sending thousands of troops to aid in military operations against Ukrainian forces. The recent agreement will see North Korea send “a division of builders, two military brigades – 5,000 people” and 1,000 deminers to assist with reconstruction in the war-damaged Kursk region, Shoigu detailed.

“This is a kind of fraternal assistance from the Korean people and leader Kim Jong Un to our country,” Shoigu was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, North Korean state media painted a picture of the meeting as amicable, highlighting a “congenial atmosphere of friendship and trust”. They noted that Kim confirmed plans for further cooperation, although they offered little in terms of specifics.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), discussions between Kim and Shoigu included “immediate cooperation” and more extensive “long-term plans” based on agreements made through personal correspondence over the past few weeks. These discussions follow a significant military deal signed last year between Russia and North Korea, which included a mutual defense clause during Putin’s rare visit to North Korea.

Reports suggest that Pyongyang has been supplying arms to Russia to bolster its efforts in Ukraine. In earlier talks this month, Shoigu and Kim had expressed their intentions to enhance the Russian-North Korean relationship into a “powerful and comprehensive relationship of strategic partnership,” according to KCNA. This evolving alliance between two isolated nations is of great interest to analysts monitoring the geopolitical landscape in Northeast Asia.

In summary, North Korea is sending military builders and deminers to support Russia’s recovery in the Kursk region following Ukrainian military actions. This collaboration highlights the deepening ties between the two nations, which have been increasingly aligned amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. With expansion of military cooperation on the agenda, the strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea appears to be solidifying.

Original Source: www.channelnewsasia.com