North Korea is continuing preparations for an additional troop deployment to Russia, but South Korea says it has found no sign that deployment is imminent. Seoul also said North Korea continues to supply Russia with weapons systems, including short-range ballistic missiles, and has sent more than 15 million rounds of artillery ammunition. The ministry said some North Korean ballistic missiles and multiple rocket launchers intended for use against South Korea are nearing completion. It also said the Hwasong-12 missile is being prepared for operational deployment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attend a meeting in Beijing, China, Sept. 3, 2025, in this photo provided by Sputnik. Reuters-Yonhap
South Korea's Defence Ministry said North Korea was continuing preparations for an additional troop deployment to Russia, but had detected no signs that such a deployment was imminent, according to a South Korean lawmaker's office.
The assessment came after North Korea's Kim Yo-jong, sister of leader Kim Jong-un, last week denied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's claim that Pyongyang planned to send up to 50,000 more troops to Russia to fight for its ally.
