The Korean Central News Agency reported on April 27 that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Pyongyang's Memorial Museum of Combat Feats for Overseas Military Operations on April 26, 2026. (KCNA/Yonhap)
The South Korean Ministry of National Defense on Sunday responded to recent claims from Ukraine about the possibility of additional deployments of North Korean troops to Russia by saying that while North Korean deployment preparations have been ongoing, no signs have been detected of any imminent additional deployments at present.The ministry gave its explanation through materials sent to the office of Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the main opposition People Power Party.It also said that “numerous casualties are believed to have occurred among the North Korean troops currently deployed.”Speculation about additional North Korean deployments surfaced last month after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that North Korea was deploying around 30,000 additional troops to Russia.If North Korea were preparing for the imminent deployment of tens of thousands of troops, South Korean and US intelligence authorities would detect signs, as it would need to move the troops and equipment by transport vessels from its major ports.Kim Yo-jong, the high-ranking sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, denied the speculation in a “position” statement published on Aug. 19, where she called it an “ungrounded farce” concocted by Kyiv.The Defense Ministry also said that numerous casualties were believed to have occurred among the North Korean troops who had already been deployed.“Deployment compensation also appears to have been paid out,” it reported.The ministry further speculated that North Korea had provided Russia with artillery equivalent of over 15 million single 152 mm shells.The Defense Intelligence Agency, a unit that reports directly to the defense minister, concluded that North Korea had continued to provide Russia with support in terms of short-range ballistic missiles and other weapons since the outbreak of the war with Ukraine. It also suggested that the accuracy and general performance of North Korean-made missiles may have improved, based on cumulative combat data and the possibility of Russian assistance with advice and components.For the first time, military officials confirmed that the development process was largely complete for weapon systems deemed to specifically target South Korea, including Hwasong-2 tactical ballistic missiles and 600 mm multiple rocket launchers.The agency stated that the weapons showed stronger operational performance than the previous Scud missiles and improved accuracy, interception avoidance, and mass launch capabilities.Commenting on North Korea’s announcement that it had positioned 250 launchers for new tactical ballistic missiles on its front lines, the agency said, “While preparations for force integration are underway, no evidence of combat deployment has been detected to date.”It was also confirmed for the first time that the Hwasong-12 intermediate-range missile — which is capable of reaching the US territory of Guam — had undergone development and was in preparation for operational deployment. The agency stated that the Hwasong-16 hypersonic missile was in development but still showed inadequacies in its technology for stable gliding in hypersonic environments.It concluded that while North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) do have the flight capabilities to reach the US mainland, all test launches have been carried out at high angles, meaning that the core technology for processes such as warhead atmospheric reentry had not yet been tested. High-angle launches involve deliberately launching missiles at near-vertical angles rather than normal 30- to 45-degree angles in order to reduce the flight distance.The South Korean military concluded that North Korea’s Hero Kim Kun Ok tactical nuclear attack submarine had not yet been integrated, and that the large nuclear-powered submarine that North Korea claimed to be developing was still a long way from integration.By Kwon Hyuk-chul, staff reporterPlease direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]
