The participation of the DPRK army in the war against Ukraine will have long-term consequences for the security system in the Asia-Pacific region.
This was stated by the head of the HUR of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, in an exclusive interview with the South Korean publication The Chosun.
According to him, the North Korean group lost about 4,000 soldiers, killed and seriously wounded in the war against Ukraine. But despite significant losses, North Korean forces continue to actively participate in joint operations with Russian troops. There is also an increase in the number of North Korean artillery on the front.
“This war mobilized all the military capabilities of the countries involved. Only three states — Ukraine, Russia, and North Korea — are gaining direct experience in waging a full-scale war of the 21st century. The future North Korean army will be radically different from the past,” emphasized Kyrylo Budanov.
The head of the Military Development Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine emphasized that the aggressor state Russia and the DPRK are deepening military cooperation in the field of technology, science, and industry.
“This cooperation is reaching the highest level and poses a serious threat to the international community. […] North Korea is using this war to gain combat experience and modernize its military technologies. This will have long-term consequences for the security system in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Kyrylo Budanov.
As an example, he described the changes that the North Korean KN-23 missile has undergone.
“Initially, its accuracy was very low, with an error of 500 to 1,500 meters, but Russian specialists made technical modifications. Now the missile has become much more accurate and is a much more serious threat,” the head of the Ukrainian special service noted, adding that this missile weapon threatens the security of South Korea and Japan.
Kyrylo Budanov expressed hope that cooperation between Kyiv and Seoul will deepen.
“Both Ukraine and South Korea face the same enemy — North Korea. South Korea has decades of intelligence on North Korea, and this information would be extremely valuable to us. Ukraine is now gaining combat experience on its own battlefield. Sharing this experience and intelligence would be mutually beneficial,” the head of the HUR of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine emphasized.
