The text discusses the growing casualty figures among North Korean troops deployed to fight in the Russia-Ukraine war, estimated to be around 300 deaths. It also analyzes the potential implications of former U.S. President Donald Trump's return to power for North Korea's diplomatic prospects. Trump's previous meetings with Kim Jong Un and his potential willingness to negotiate with North Korea raise questions about the future of denuclearization efforts and the delicate balance of power in the region.
South Korea has assessed that approximately 300 North Korea n soldiers have died fighting in the war in Ukraine, with an estimated 10,000-12,000 troops deployed to Russia in October 2024. This information comes from a report by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, shared with journalists. The report also states that North Korea continues to prepare for an intercontinental ballistic missile test aimed at the United States. The potential return of former U.S.
President Donald Trump to the White House is viewed as potentially beneficial for Pyongyang's prospects of engaging in high-level diplomacy with the U.S. Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un three times during his first term. Experts believe Kim likely sees his advancing nuclear program and expanding military cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin as providing him with greater leverage in negotiations compared to his 2018-19 summits with Trump.North Korea has been supplying Russia with significant quantities of artillery and other conventional weapons, and last October, approximately 10,000-12,000 North Korean troops were sent to Russia according to intelligence gathered by the U.S., South Korea, and Ukraine. Seoul, Washington, and others express concern that Russia could reciprocate by transferring sophisticated weapons technologies to North Korea, potentially enhancing its nuclear capabilities. While North Korean soldiers are considered highly disciplined and well-trained, their lack of combat experience and unfamiliarity with the largely flat plains that dominate battlefields in the Russia-Ukraine war have made them vulnerable targets for drones and artillery strikes. South Korea's spy agency reported last week that approximately 300 North Korean soldiers had been killed and another 2,700 wounded. Earlier in January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy estimated the number of killed or wounded North Koreans at 4,000, although U.S. estimates are lower, around 1,200. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that North Korea is believed to be accelerating preparations to send more troops to Russia, without disclosing the basis for this assessment.Strengthening military ties between North Korea and Russia could embolden Kim in his dealings with the U.S. and South Korea. At a major political conference last month, Kim vowed to implement the “toughest” anti-U.S. policy. However, many experts believe that Kim may ultimately seek talks with Trump if he perceives the U.S. president as willing to make concessions. Previous negotiations between Trump and Kim collapsed when Trump rejected Kim’s proposal to dismantle his primary nuclear complex – a limited denuclearization step – in exchange for extensive sanctions relief. Since then, Kim has significantly accelerated the pace of weapons tests to expand his arsenal of nuclear missiles targeting the U.S. and South Korea.In South Korea, there are concerns that Trump might prioritize eliminating North Korea’s long-range missile program, which poses a direct threat to the U.S., over the goal of complete denuclearization, potentially leaving North Korea’s nuclear attack capabilities against South Korea intact. On Monday, Trump described North Korea as “a nuclear power” while highlighting his personal rapport with Kim. This statement caused a stir in South Korea, as Washington, Seoul, and their allies have traditionally avoided referring to the country as a nuclear state, fearing it could be interpreted as acceptance of North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.“I was very friendly with him. He liked me. I liked him,” Trump stated during a press conference at the Oval Office following his inauguration. “Now he is a nuclear power. But we got along. I think he’ll be happy to see I’m coming back.” Jeon Ha Gyu, spokesperson for the South Korean Defense Ministry, addressed reporters on Tuesday, emphasizing that efforts to achieve North Korea’s denuclearization must continue as a prerequisite for lasting peace not only on the Korean Peninsula but also globally. South Korea’s Foreign Ministry also indicated its intention to closely coordinate with the Trump administration to achieve denuclearization
North Korea Russia-Ukraine War Donald Trump Kim Jong Un Denuclearization Military Cooperation Diplomatic Relations
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