00:20Russia's military partnership with North Korea may be entering a new phase.
00:25According to Ukraine's military intelligence, North Korea has begun deploying a missile unit to Western Russia, a move that could
00:34significantly strengthen Moscow's ballistic missile capabilities in its war against Ukraine.
00:40The information comes from Andrei Cherniak, a representative of Ukraine's main directorate of intelligence, who says the deployment is already
00:50underway.
00:51According to Ukrainian intelligence, the North Korean unit is being stationed in Russia's Voronezh region, just over 150 kilometers from
01:00the Ukrainian border.
01:01The force is expected to operate alongside Russia's 112th Missile Brigade.
01:07Officials say the deployment could include around 90 North Korean personnel, up to 120 KN-23 and KN-24 short
01:18-range ballistic missiles, and six missile launchers.
01:21Ukraine says North Korea has already delivered a fresh shipment of roughly 40 ballistic missiles, along with military personnel, to
01:30support the operation.
01:32It remains unclear whether North Korean troops would directly launch the missiles, or instead provide technical and operational assistance to
01:41Russian forces.
01:43The claims are based on Ukrainian intelligence, that officials say cannot be fully disclosed due to security concerns.
01:51A source familiar with the matter told Reuters that the United States is aware of the reported deployment.
01:57However, the CIA declined to comment, while the White House has not issued an official response.
02:04As of now, Reuters says, the claims have not been independently verified, and neither Russia's defense ministry nor North Korea's
02:13representatives have publicly commented on the report.
02:16If confirmed, the deployment would mark another major step in the growing military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.
02:25Russia has already used North Korean-made KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles against Ukraine since late 2023.
02:35Ukrainian officials say nearly 150 missiles were supplied before this latest shipment.
02:42Beyond missiles, North Korea has reportedly supplied millions of artillery shells, and previously deployed thousands of troops to support Russian
02:52operations.
02:53The two countries also signed a mutual defense pact in 2024, further deepening their strategic relationship.
03:01Ukraine warns that an increase in North Korean ballistic missiles could place even greater pressure on its already strained air
03:09defenses,
03:10especially as Kyiv continues to face shortages of Patriot interceptor missiles capable of stopping high-speed ballistic threats.
03:20Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrei Sibiha has issued a clear warning,
03:25saying any North Korean missile launchers deployed on Russian territory for attacks against Ukraine
03:31would be considered legitimate military targets and would be destroyed.
03:36The reported deployment comes as both Russia and Ukraine prepare for another potentially difficult winter,
03:43with concerns growing that missile strikes could once again target Ukraine's critical energy infrastructure.
03:50For now, many details remain unconfirmed, and independent verification is still pending.
03:57But if these reports prove accurate, they would signal a significant expansion of North Korea's direct military support for Russia
04:06in the ongoing war against Ukraine.
04:28곳 spread more than their Ukraine are based on the dudaруд Kitty's chamónica's national law against Ukraine.
04:30InFinish's
Comments