Seoul: South Korea's military reported on Monday that it has detected signs indicating North Korea is preparing to send additional troops and weaponry, including suicide drones, to Russia in support of its ongoing war against Ukraine. According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Pyongyang has already supplied Russia with 240mm multiple rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled howitzers, and is in the process of preparing more suicide drones following a test overseen by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last month.

A JCS official stated that suicide drones are a focus for Kim, with the North expressing its intent to provide them to Russia. These drones have become widely used in the Ukraine conflict, and Kim has ordered their mass production, along with updates to military strategy and education, to keep pace with growing global competition, according to state media.

Seoul, Washington, and Kyiv have estimated that approximately 12,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Russia. The JCS noted that at least 1,100 of these troops have been reported killed or wounded, a number consistent with recent intelligence from South Korea's spy agency, which indicated around 100 deaths and 1,000 injuries in the Kursk region.

The increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia poses a growing concern for Seoul, as Pyongyang's forces modernize their conventional military capabilities, which are currently considered inferior to South Korea's, while gaining valuable combat experience.

Along the heavily fortified Korean border, North Korea has recently deployed up to 10,000 soldiers to fortify the area, installing barriers and barbed wire. However, the number of troops has reportedly decreased to several hundred over the weekend. The JCS also released images showing North Korean soldiers testing an electrified wire fence using a goat.

There is speculation, the JCS added, that North Korea may test-fire an intermediate-range hypersonic missile by the end of the year, possibly in advance of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration. Additionally, the North may send more balloons filled with garbage to South Korea, a tactic they have employed since late May in response to similar balloon launches by South Korean activists carrying propaganda leaflets.

The JCS official warned that with Russia's support, North Korea may intensify provocations in the coming year, potentially including the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles or a nuclear test to strengthen its negotiating position with the United States.

On Monday, South Korea’s acting president Han Duck-soo held a telephone conversation with the new commander of U.S. Forces Korea, Xavier T. Brunson. Han emphasized the importance of close cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. to maintain a strong security stance, warning that North Korea could "misjudge" Seoul's resolve and engage in provocations, such as launching ballistic missiles. Brunson stressed the need for concrete actions, underscoring that joint exercises would be key to responding effectively to any potential threats.