South Korea on Tuesday (Oct 22)&nbsp;threatened to consider sending offensive weapons to Ukraine amid reports that troops from the North have been rushed to aid Russia’s war efforts. Seoul is worried that the deepening military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang may end up boosting North Korea’s weapons technologies, including nuclear and missile programmes.

South Korea’s top officials earlier condemned the North’s alleged move to send soldiers to Russia in the National Security Council meeting. Terming it “a grave security threat”, Seoul alleged Pyongyang was forcing its youth to serve as Russian mercenaries for an unjustifiable war in Ukraine.

The officials in a statement said Seoul would take phased countermeasures, based on the level of cooperation North Korean and Russian militaries exhibit in coming days.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjFwYubuqKJAxXJzjQHHcOuMygQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-amends-constitution-declares-south-korea-a-hostile-state-768166" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-amends-constitution-declares-south-korea-a-hostile-state-768166&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjFwYubuqKJAxXJzjQHHcOuMygQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE">North Korea amends constitution, declares South Korea a 'hostile' state</a>

A senior South Korean presidential official was quoted as saying by news agencies that Seoul was considering sending both defensive and offensive weapons to Ukraine, apart from taking diplomatic and economic actions.

<h2>Why is S Korea&nbsp;worried?</h2>

Seoul is concerned that Moscow&nbsp;may offer high-tech technologies to Pyongyang to help it perfect its nuclear missiles, in exchange for support in Ukraine.

Of all, the biggest concern is Pyongyang’s potential acquisition of a space-based surveillance system&nbsp;that would pose a serious security threat to South Korea.

Seoul’s intelligence agency last week confirmed that North Korea sent 1,500 special operation forces to Russia this month.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had claimed that his government had intelligence that 10,000 North Korean soldiers were being prepared to join invading Russian forces.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjFwYubuqKJAxXJzjQHHcOuMygQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-to-send-12000-troops-to-fight-alongside-russia-in-its-war-against-ukraine-seoul-768749" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-to-send-12000-troops-to-fight-alongside-russia-in-its-war-against-ukraine-seoul-768749&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjFwYubuqKJAxXJzjQHHcOuMygQxfQBKAB6BAgNEAE">North Korea to send 12,000 troops to fight alongside Russia in its war against Ukraine: Seoul</a>

However, both North Korea and Russia have rubbished these reports.

Russia’s United Nations Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia dismissed the claims on Monday (Oct 21), accusing the West of “circulating scaremongering with Iranian, Chinese and Korean bogeymen, each one of which is more absurd than the one before.”

(With inputs from agencies)

South Korea on Tuesday (Oct 22) threatened to consider sending offensive weapons to Ukraine amid reports that troops from the North have been rushed to aid Russia’s war efforts.

South Korea on Tuesday (Oct 22) threatened to consider sending offensive weapons to Ukraine amid reports that troops from the North have been rushed to aid Russia’s war efforts. Seoul is worried that the deepening military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang may end up boosting North Korea’s weapons technologies, including nuclear and missile programmes. South Korea’s top officials earlier condemned the North’s alleged move to send soldiers to Russia in the National Security Council meeting. Terming it “a grave security threat”, Seoul alleged Pyongyang was forcing its youth to serve as Russian mercenaries for an unjustifiable war in Ukraine. The officials in a statement said Seoul would take phased countermeasures, based on the level of cooperation North Korean and Russian militaries exhibit in coming days. Also read: North Korea amends constitution, declares South Korea a 'hostile' state A senior South Korean presidential official was quoted as saying by news agencies that Seoul was considering sending both defensive and offensive weapons to Ukraine, apart from taking diplomatic and economic actions. Why is S Korea worried? Seoul is concerned that Moscow may offer high-tech technologies to Pyongyang to help it perfect its nuclear missiles, in exchange for support in Ukraine. Of all, the biggest concern is Pyongyang’s potential acquisition of a space-based surveillance system that would pose a serious security threat to South Korea. Seoul’s intelligence agency last week confirmed that North Korea sent 1,500 special operation forces to Russia this month. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had claimed that his government had intelligence that 10,000 North Korean soldiers were being prepared to join invading Russian forces. Also read: North Korea to send 12,000 troops to fight alongside Russia in its war against Ukraine: Seoul However, both North Korea and Russia have rubbished these reports. Russia’s United Nations Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia dismissed the claims on Monday (Oct 21), accusing the West of “circulating scaremongering with Iranian, Chinese and Korean bogeymen, each one of which is more absurd than the one before.” (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea to send ‘offensive’ weapons to Ukraine after North ‘dispatches’ troops to Russia

The Russia North Korea Alliance is extending beyond military supplies and ammunition much to the horror of the West and it is now expanding to North Korean boots on the ground fighting for Russia in Ukraine all of which is being greeted by a volley of condemnation from the West. Watch in for more details!

North Korea Has Sent 1,500 Troops To Russia For Ukraine War: Reports

North Korean Troops Training For Battlefront In Ukraine: Reports

Amid the ongoing angry exchanges between North and South Korea Pyongyang has designated Seoul as a hostile State. On Thursday, October 17, 2024, North Korea confirmed that its newly revised constitution officially designates South Korea as "a hostile state" for the first time. This announcement comes just two days after North Korea destroyed the road and rail links at the border that once connected the two countries.

North Korea Amends Constitution, Declares South Korea A 'Hostile State'

North Korea on Friday (Oct 18) has decided to send "large scale troops" to support Russia amid its war with Ukraine, and will be sending 12,000 soldiers to the war, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported citing Seoul's spy agency.&nbsp;

South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it has learned that the North has recently decided to send four brigades of 12,000 soldiers, including special forces, to Ukraine to fight alongside Russian soldiers, reported Yonhap.&nbsp;

<h2>Zelensky hints at troops deployed on border&nbsp;</h2>

This comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Pyongyang is preparing to send around 10,000 soldiers to Russia and called it a "big problem".

Citing Ukrainian intelligence reports, he said that North Korean personnel have already been deployed in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-says-north-korean-troops-deployed-with-russians-to-fight-with-ukraine-768439">Also read:&nbsp;Zelensky says North Korean troops deployed with Russians to fight with Ukraine</a>

"We know about 10,000 soldiers of North Korea that they are preparing to send to fight against us," Zelensky said during a press conference in Brussels after the European Union summit. "That's really, I think, a big problem."

Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called for a security meeting on Friday and said the international community must respond with "all available means".

According to Seoul's spy agency, 1,500 North Korean troops have already arrived in Russia. Some anonymous sources told South Korean media the final figure could be closer to 12,000.

Russia and North Korea have boosted&nbsp;their defence and diplomatic relations&nbsp;in the past months.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Russia and North Korea sign strategic partnership treaty

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Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin on his birthday and called him his "closest comrade".&nbsp;

Earlier this week, a military source in Russia’s Far East told BBC Russian, that “a number of North Koreans have arrived” and were stationed in one of the military bases near Ussuriysk, to the north of Vladivostok.

However, some military experts fear that the Russian military units will have difficulties working with North Korean troops due to the language barrier and also because Pyongyang's&nbsp;army has no recent experience in combat operations.&nbsp;

“They could guard some sections of the Russian-Ukrainian border, which would free Russian units for fighting elsewhere,” Valeriy Ryabykh, editor of the Ukrainian publication Defence Express, said.&nbsp;

“I would rule out the possibility that these units will immediately appear on the front line.”

(With inputs from agencies)

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

North Korea on Friday (Oct 18) has decided to send "large scale troops" to support Russia amid its war with Ukraine, and will be sending 12,000 soldiers to the war, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported citing Seoul's spy agency.

North Korea on Friday (Oct 18) has decided to send "large scale troops" to support Russia amid its war with Ukraine, and will be sending 12,000 soldiers to the war, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported citing Seoul's spy agency. South Korea's National Intelligence Service said it has learned that the North has recently decided to send four brigades of 12,000 soldiers, including special forces, to Ukraine to fight alongside Russian soldiers, reported Yonhap. Zelensky hints at troops deployed on border This comes a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Pyongyang is preparing to send around 10,000 soldiers to Russia and called it a "big problem". Citing Ukrainian intelligence reports, he said that North Korean personnel have already been deployed in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. Also read: Zelensky says North Korean troops deployed with Russians to fight with Ukraine "We know about 10,000 soldiers of North Korea that they are preparing to send to fight against us," Zelensky said during a press conference in Brussels after the European Union summit. "That's really, I think, a big problem." Meanwhile, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol called for a security meeting on Friday and said the international community must respond with "all available means". According to Seoul's spy agency, 1,500 North Korean troops have already arrived in Russia. Some anonymous sources told South Korean media the final figure could be closer to 12,000. Russia and North Korea have boosted their defence and diplomatic relations in the past months. Watch | Russia and North Korea sign strategic partnership treaty × Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin on his birthday and called him his "closest comrade". Earlier this week, a military source in Russia’s Far East told BBC Russian, that “a number of North Koreans have arrived” and were stationed in one of the military bases near Ussuriysk, to the north of Vladivostok. However, some military experts fear that the Russian military units will have difficulties working with North Korean troops due to the language barrier and also because Pyongyang's army has no recent experience in combat operations. “They could guard some sections of the Russian-Ukrainian border, which would free Russian units for fighting elsewhere,” Valeriy Ryabykh, editor of the Ukrainian publication Defence Express, said. “I would rule out the possibility that these units will immediately appear on the front line.” (With inputs from agencies) Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately report this developing news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

North Korea to send 12,000 troops to fight alongside Russia in its war against Ukraine: Seoul

Pongyang has now designated South Korea as a hostile state, state media reports that have now confirmed that North Korea's National Assembly has indeed amended the nation's constitution in line of Kim Jong-Un's vow to drop unification as a national goal earlier this week. Watch in for more details!

North Korea Blows Border Link With South Korea

On Thursday, October 17, 2024, North Korea confirmed that its newly revised constitution officially designates South Korea as "a hostile state" for the first time. This announcement comes just two days after North Korea destroyed the road and rail links at the border that once connected the two countries.

North Korea Declares South Korea A "Hostile State" In New Constitution

North Korea on Thursday (Oct 17) announced a major change in its constitution: South Korea is now defined as a "hostile" state. This marks the first confirmation by Pyongyang of legal changes the nation's premier Kim Jong Un ordered earlier this year.

North Korea's Constitution Changed, It Now Calls South 'Hostile State'

Thousands of North Korean troops are being prepared to fight on Russia's behalf in Ukraine and some North Korean officers have already been deployed there, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.&nbsp;

Western countries have long accused North Korea of sending weapons to Russia, and in recent days Zelensky has said Pyongyang was also sending personnel, a significant escalation of foreign assistance for Moscow's invasion.

"We have information from our intelligence that ... some officers of the North Korean army are already on Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian enemies. So they joined the Russian army," Zelensky told a news conference in Brussels.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zelensky-accuses-north-korea-of-sending-troops-to-aid-russia-calls-for-more-military-support-from-partners-767153">Also read:&nbsp;Zelensky accuses North Korea of sending troops to aid Russia, calls for more military support from 'partners'</a>

He said he could not give the exact numbers that were already on the ground.

"We know about 10,000 soldiers of North Korea that they are preparing to send fight against us," he said, describing it as the "first step to the World War".

The North Korean troops being prepared to fight in Ukraine include land forces and "other technical personnel", Zelensky said.

Watch |&nbsp;Is Russia using North Korean missiles against Ukraine?

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Ukraine's Western allies have yet to confirm Kyiv's assertion that Pyongyang is sending troops, though they say they are studying it. White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said on Tuesday any North Korean troop involvement in Ukraine, if true, would mark a significant increase in the Moscow-Pyongyang defence relationship.

Zelensky said Russia needs to fill the gap in mobilisation and cover its own personnel losses.

Ukraine and the West say hundreds of thousands of Russians have been killed or wounded fighting in Ukraine, while Ukraine's own military losses, a closely guarded secret, are also high but smaller. Moscow's forces have advanced over the past several months in Ukraine's east.

Ukraine has called on allies to respond firmly to North Korean aid for Russia, including by imposing new sanctions and further isolating Pyongyang.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

Thousands of North Korean troops are being prepared to fight on Russia's behalf in Ukraine and some North Korean officers have already been deployed there, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.

Thousands of North Korean troops are being prepared to fight on Russia's behalf in Ukraine and some North Korean officers have already been deployed there, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday. Western countries have long accused North Korea of sending weapons to Russia, and in recent days Zelensky has said Pyongyang was also sending personnel, a significant escalation of foreign assistance for Moscow's invasion. "We have information from our intelligence that ... some officers of the North Korean army are already on Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by the Russian enemies. So they joined the Russian army," Zelensky told a news conference in Brussels. Also read: Zelensky accuses North Korea of sending troops to aid Russia, calls for more military support from 'partners' He said he could not give the exact numbers that were already on the ground. "We know about 10,000 soldiers of North Korea that they are preparing to send fight against us," he said, describing it as the "first step to the World War". The North Korean troops being prepared to fight in Ukraine include land forces and "other technical personnel", Zelensky said. Watch | Is Russia using North Korean missiles against Ukraine? × Ukraine's Western allies have yet to confirm Kyiv's assertion that Pyongyang is sending troops, though they say they are studying it. White House National Security Council spokesperson Sean Savett said on Tuesday any North Korean troop involvement in Ukraine, if true, would mark a significant increase in the Moscow-Pyongyang defence relationship. Zelensky said Russia needs to fill the gap in mobilisation and cover its own personnel losses. Ukraine and the West say hundreds of thousands of Russians have been killed or wounded fighting in Ukraine, while Ukraine's own military losses, a closely guarded secret, are also high but smaller. Moscow's forces have advanced over the past several months in Ukraine's east. Ukraine has called on allies to respond firmly to North Korean aid for Russia, including by imposing new sanctions and further isolating Pyongyang. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Zelensky says North Korean troops deployed with Russians to fight with Ukraine

Is South Korea pursuing plans to develop a nuclear bomb? Speculations are rife after Seoul’s top envoy to the US said his country was pressing the US to allow South Korea to build and operate facilities to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong said, “We will regard that as a priority that we will push for after a new US government takes office.”

<h2>What caused alarm among analysts?</h2>

While Seoul may say its primary objective is to produce fuel for nuclear power plants and nuclear-powered submarines at home, analysts fear the same fuel can be used to develop a nuclear bomb by extracting fissile material.

South China Morning Post quoted Seong-chang, a senior researcher from the Sejong Institute, as saying that once South Korea gets access to the demanded facilities, it will be in a position to start production of nukes “in three to six months”.

“If South Korea has nuclear latency as Japan does, it would serve as a strong deterrence against North Korea, which resorts to nuclear threats so often,” said Chang while talking to reporters.

“But for nuclear warheads, South Korea has all the things needed to arm itself with its own nuclear weapons – delivery means, engineering and the [newly launched] strategic command,” he added.

Seoul has been facing an increased nuclear threat from North Korea but has only relied on the US nuclear umbrella for its defence.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjbnvDu_JSJAxUW-qACHVY7CGMQxfQBKAB6BAgTEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/ukraines-thrust-into-russia-up-ends-assumptions-on-nuclear-war-759934" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/ukraines-thrust-into-russia-up-ends-assumptions-on-nuclear-war-759934&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjbnvDu_JSJAxUW-qACHVY7CGMQxfQBKAB6BAgTEAE">Ukraine's thrust into Russia up-ends assumptions on nuclear war</a>

Defence Minister Kim Yong-ho in August had stressed that South Korea was dependent on USA’s extended deterrence but he added that all other options were also open.

“However, if it is deemed difficult to deal with the North Korean nuclear threats, all other options are open”, he said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjbnvDu_JSJAxUW-qACHVY7CGMQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/the-high-stakes-gamble-can-missile-defense-systems-truly-intercept-nuclear-warheads-764569" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/the-high-stakes-gamble-can-missile-defense-systems-truly-intercept-nuclear-warheads-764569&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjbnvDu_JSJAxUW-qACHVY7CGMQxfQBKAB6BAgOEAE">The high-stakes gamble: Can missile defence systems truly intercept nuclear warheads?</a>

Back in 2020, Minister Kim made headlines when he said his nation can’t survive without nuclear firepower.

“We cannot survive without nuclear weapons. If we are nuclear-armed, we can neutralise our neighbours’ nuclear weapons through the ‘balance of fear’,” he had said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Is South Korea pursuing plans to develop a nuclear bomb? Speculations are rife after Seoul’s top envoy to the US said his country was pressing the US to allow South Korea to build and operate facilities to reprocess spent nuclear fuel.

Is South Korea pursuing plans to develop a nuclear bomb? Speculations are rife after Seoul’s top envoy to the US said his country was pressing the US to allow South Korea to build and operate facilities to reprocess spent nuclear fuel. Ambassador Cho Hyun-dong said, “We will regard that as a priority that we will push for after a new US government takes office.” What caused alarm among analysts? While Seoul may say its primary objective is to produce fuel for nuclear power plants and nuclear-powered submarines at home, analysts fear the same fuel can be used to develop a nuclear bomb by extracting fissile material. South China Morning Post quoted Seong-chang, a senior researcher from the Sejong Institute, as saying that once South Korea gets access to the demanded facilities, it will be in a position to start production of nukes “in three to six months”. “If South Korea has nuclear latency as Japan does, it would serve as a strong deterrence against North Korea, which resorts to nuclear threats so often,” said Chang while talking to reporters. “But for nuclear warheads, South Korea has all the things needed to arm itself with its own nuclear weapons – delivery means, engineering and the [newly launched] strategic command,” he added. Seoul has been facing an increased nuclear threat from North Korea but has only relied on the US nuclear umbrella for its defence. Also read: Ukraine's thrust into Russia up-ends assumptions on nuclear war Defence Minister Kim Yong-ho in August had stressed that South Korea was dependent on USA’s extended deterrence but he added that all other options were also open. “However, if it is deemed difficult to deal with the North Korean nuclear threats, all other options are open”, he said. Also read: The high-stakes gamble: Can missile defence systems truly intercept nuclear warheads? Back in 2020, Minister Kim made headlines when he said his nation can’t survive without nuclear firepower. “We cannot survive without nuclear weapons. If we are nuclear-armed, we can neutralise our neighbours’ nuclear weapons through the ‘balance of fear’,” he had said. (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea to build nuclear bomb? Rumours rife as Seoul mulls reprocessing spent nuclear fuel

North Korea's Pyongyang Designates South Korea As "Hostile State"

Amid the escalating tensions with North Korea Seoul has alleged that Pongyang has blown up sections of road connecting both sides of the heavily militarized border between the two Koreas. Watch in for more details!

North Korea Blows Up Parts of Inter-Korean Road, Rail Lines Near Border Blown Up

North Korea blows up inter-Korean roads, escalating tensions with South Korea

North Korea appears to be planning explosions along South Korean roadways, according to a statement issued by the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff on Monday.

North Korea- South Korea Tensions: Pyongyang Blows Up Inter-Korean Roads And Rail Lines

North Korea has issued a warning of potential military retaliation in response to what it claims was a drone attack from South Korea. Pyongyang alleges that South Korean drones entered its airspace, escalating tensions on the already volatile Korean Peninsula. While South Korea has not confirmed any such incursion, North Korea's leadership has condemned the alleged breach, threatening to take decisive military measures. This incident adds to the ongoing friction between the two nations, raising concerns about further escalation in the region.

North Korea Threatens Military Action Over Alleged South Korean Drone Incursion

North Korean military engineers have been deployed to help Russia in its invasion of Ukraine with ballistic missiles, and North Koreans operating in occupied regions of Ukraine have already been killed, alleged senior officials in Kyiv and Seoul.&nbsp;

A Ukrainian source told The Guardian that there are dozens of North Koreans behind Russian lines, in teams that “support launcher systems for KN-23 missiles”.&nbsp;

<h2>Kremlin dismisses Seoul's claim&nbsp;</h2>

The Kremlin on Thursday (Oct 10), dismissed the claim by South Korea that Pyongyang soldiers were fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, and called it another "fake news story".&nbsp;

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, "This seems like yet another fake news story."&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-koreas-kim-calls-putin-his-closest-comrade-says-relation-between-both-countries-became-eternal-765691">Also read:&nbsp;North Korea's Kim calls Putin 'closest comrade', terms relations between two countries 'eternal'</a>

Last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong Yun travelled to Russia for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin where the two men bolstered their deepening ties with a secret arms deal.

North Korea's ammunition shipments were important in allowing Russian forces to advance in a grinding war of attrition in eastern Ukraine this summer.&nbsp;

Ukraine's Kyiv Post reported on Friday that six North Korean military officers had been killed in a Ukrainian missile attack on Russian-occupied territory near Donetsk a day earlier, citing intelligence sources.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: North Korea Slams US For Providing Military Aid To Ukraine | World DNA

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South Korean Defence Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, told lawmakers that the report was probably correct.

"We assess that the occurrence of casualties among North Korean officers and soldiers in Ukraine is highly likely, considering various circumstances," he said, adding, "The issue of deploying regular troops is highly likely due to the mutual agreements that resemble a military alliance between Russia and North Korea."

Head of Ukraine's centre for countering disinformation, Lieutenant Andriy Kovalenko, took to Telegram and said that there were "small numbers of combat engineers" from North Korea in the Donetsk region combat zone.

According to experts, North Korean missiles have been deployed in Ukraine by Russian forces, a report denied by both Moscow and Pyongyang.

Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

North Korean military engineers have been deployed to help Russia in its invasion of Ukraine with ballistic missiles, and North Koreans operating in occupied regions of Ukraine have already been killed, alleged senior officials in Kyiv and Seoul.

North Korean military engineers have been deployed to help Russia in its invasion of Ukraine with ballistic missiles, and North Koreans operating in occupied regions of Ukraine have already been killed, alleged senior officials in Kyiv and Seoul. A Ukrainian source told The Guardian that there are dozens of North Koreans behind Russian lines, in teams that “support launcher systems for KN-23 missiles”. Kremlin dismisses Seoul's claim The Kremlin on Thursday (Oct 10), dismissed the claim by South Korea that Pyongyang soldiers were fighting alongside Russian troops in Ukraine, and called it another "fake news story". Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists, "This seems like yet another fake news story." Also read: North Korea's Kim calls Putin 'closest comrade', terms relations between two countries 'eternal' Last year, North Korean leader Kim Jong Yun travelled to Russia for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin where the two men bolstered their deepening ties with a secret arms deal. North Korea's ammunition shipments were important in allowing Russian forces to advance in a grinding war of attrition in eastern Ukraine this summer. Ukraine's Kyiv Post reported on Friday that six North Korean military officers had been killed in a Ukrainian missile attack on Russian-occupied territory near Donetsk a day earlier, citing intelligence sources. Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: North Korea Slams US For Providing Military Aid To Ukraine | World DNA × South Korean Defence Minister, Kim Yong-hyun, told lawmakers that the report was probably correct. "We assess that the occurrence of casualties among North Korean officers and soldiers in Ukraine is highly likely, considering various circumstances," he said, adding, "The issue of deploying regular troops is highly likely due to the mutual agreements that resemble a military alliance between Russia and North Korea." Head of Ukraine's centre for countering disinformation, Lieutenant Andriy Kovalenko, took to Telegram and said that there were "small numbers of combat engineers" from North Korea in the Donetsk region combat zone. According to experts, North Korean missiles have been deployed in Ukraine by Russian forces, a report denied by both Moscow and Pyongyang. Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

North Koreans deployed alongside Russian troops to fight against Ukraine; Kremlin rejects claims as ‘fake’

The North Korean military announced plans to destroy all Road and Railway links to South Korea starting on Wednesday. The move follows months of increased military activity along the border and this comes in response to joint military exercise conducted by South Korea and the United States. Watch in for more details!

North Korea Announces Complete Severance Of Roads, Railways To South Korea

North Korea is openly embracing its nuclear Ambitions. Kim Jong-Un is pledging to accelerate the country's path to becoming a nuclear superpower. Watch in for more details!

Kim Jong-Un Pledges Nuclear Superpower Status For North Korea

North Korea's Kim Jong Un reiterated threats to use nuclear weapons against South Korea and the US, blaming them for escalating tensions. Watch for more details!

North Korea Eyes Nuclear Superpower Status

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a birthday congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who turned 72 on Tuesday (Oct 8), calling him "closest comrade".&nbsp;

Kim said that the relations between both countries would be raised to a new level.

Since Russia began the Ukraine invasion in 2022, relations between Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened,&nbsp;a move that has worried the West.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-north-korean-soldiers-likely-fighting-alongside-russian-troops-says-seoul-765509">Also read:&nbsp;Ukraine war: North Korean soldiers likely fighting alongside Russian troops, says Seoul</a>

The North Korean leader on Tuesday said Pyongyang would speed up steps to make his country a military superpower with nuclear weapons.

Kim praised relations between both countries and said they had become "invincible and eternal", since Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing North Korean state media KCNA.&nbsp;

"Meetings and comradely ties between us... will make a positive contribution to further consolidating the eternal foundation of the DPRK-Russia friendship," he added, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Watch |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: North Korea Slams US For Providing Military Aid To Ukraine | World DNA

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This year, Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim signed an agreement, vowing that they would help each other in the event of "aggression" against either country - though it was unclear what would constitute aggression.

Meanwhile, Kim has also been accused of helping Russia in its war with Ukraine by supplying it with weapons in exchange for economic and technological assistance.

(With inputs from agencies)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a birthday congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who turned 72 on Tuesday (Oct 8), calling him "closest comrade".

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a birthday congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who turned 72 on Tuesday (Oct 8), calling him "closest comrade". Kim said that the relations between both countries would be raised to a new level. Since Russia began the Ukraine invasion in 2022, relations between Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened, a move that has worried the West. Also read: Ukraine war: North Korean soldiers likely fighting alongside Russian troops, says Seoul The North Korean leader on Tuesday said Pyongyang would speed up steps to make his country a military superpower with nuclear weapons. Kim praised relations between both countries and said they had become "invincible and eternal", since Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing North Korean state media KCNA. "Meetings and comradely ties between us... will make a positive contribution to further consolidating the eternal foundation of the DPRK-Russia friendship," he added, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Watch | Russia-Ukraine War: North Korea Slams US For Providing Military Aid To Ukraine | World DNA × This year, Russian President Putin and North Korean leader Kim signed an agreement, vowing that they would help each other in the event of "aggression" against either country - though it was unclear what would constitute aggression. Meanwhile, Kim has also been accused of helping Russia in its war with Ukraine by supplying it with weapons in exchange for economic and technological assistance. (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea's Kim calls Putin 'closest comrade', terms relations between two countries 'eternal'

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has announced plans to fast-track his country's efforts to become a dominant nuclear power. This move signals his intention to expand North Korea's nuclear arsenal and enhance its military capabilities amid rising global tensions. Kim's ambitions underscore the regime's defiance of international sanctions and growing pressure from the global community to curb its nuclear program.

Kim Jong-Un Aims To Accelerate North Korea's Path To Becoming A Nuclear Superpower

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a live fire artillery exercise by graduates of an artillery Force training academy. This comes days after he warned that North Korea would not hesitate to use all offensive force including nuclear weapons if anyone encroached on its sovereignty. Watch to know more.

Kim Jong Un Oversees Artillery Exercise

North Korean leader&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;Jong&nbsp;Un&nbsp;oversaw a live-fire artillery exercise by graduates of O Jin U Artillery Academy the day before they became active commanding officers in the core division of the Korean People's Army, state media reported on Sunday (October 6).

North Korea's state-run&nbsp;television KRT released on Sunday still photographs of&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;watching the drills at a firing range and taking group pictures with graduates of the military school.

The military facility trains the backbone of the country's artillery force, according to state media.

On Friday (October 4),&nbsp;Kim&nbsp;said the country would not hesitate to use all available offensive forces including nuclear weapons if the enemy attempted to use force to encroach on its sovereignty.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience. 
&nbsp;

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a live-fire artillery exercise by graduates of O Jin U Artillery Academy the day before they became active commanding officers in the core division of the Korean People's Army, state media reported on Sunday (October 6).

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a live-fire artillery exercise by graduates of O Jin U Artillery Academy the day before they became active commanding officers in the core division of the Korean People's Army, state media reported on Sunday (October 6). North Korea's state-run television KRT released on Sunday still photographs of Kim watching the drills at a firing range and taking group pictures with graduates of the military school. The military facility trains the backbone of the country's artillery force, according to state media. On Friday (October 4), Kim said the country would not hesitate to use all available offensive forces including nuclear weapons if the enemy attempted to use force to encroach on its sovereignty. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

North Korea's Kim Jong Un observes live-fire artillery drill

North Korea is furious its leader Kim Jong-Un is issuing a chilling threat to annihilate South Korea with nuclear weapons if attacked...Watch in for more details!

North Kim Un Tours Military Base, Vows Nuclear Retaliation

North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, sister of leader Kim Jong Un, criticised a military parade held in Seoul for its Armed Forces Day this week and called it a “clown show”.

North Korea's Kim Yo Jong Calls South Korea's Military Parade a 'Clown Show'

The US CIA has continued its apparently successful recruitment of Russian spies by launching a fresh push to find informants in China, Iran, and North Korea. The top US spying agency released instructions in Mandarin, Farsi and Korean on its accounts on X, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, LinkedIn and the Dark Web on how to contact it securely, a CIA spokeswoman said in a statement.

CIA Stops Being Secret Service, Puts 'Spies Wanted' Ad On Social Media

CIA Seeks Informants In China, North Korea and Iran, Starts Recruiting Online

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that any use of nuclear weapons against Seoul would lead to the end of his&nbsp;regime.&nbsp;

Yeol was speaking during an event marking the 76th Armed Forces Day, as North Korea has intensified its nuclear threats with the first public disclosure of its uranium enrichment facility last month.

He further underscored the strength of South Korea's alliance with the US, which currently has thousands of troops in the country.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-fires-short-range-ballistic-missiles-for-second-time-in-a-week-759685">Also read:&nbsp;North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles for second time in a week</a>

"Our military will immediately retaliate against North Korea's provocations based on its robust combat capabilities and solid readiness posture," Yoon said during a commemorative ceremony at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of the capital.

"If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face the resolute and overwhelming response of our military and the South Korea-US alliance. That day will be the end of the North Korean regime," he added.

The South Korean president also noted North Korea's move to send trash balloons and GPS jamming attacks on its territory.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;UN Nuclear Chief On North Korea's Nuclear Program

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"After committing despicable types of provocations like sending trash balloons and GPS jamming attacks, they have now gone so far as to claim a 'two hostile states' theory, even denying the possibility of reunification," he said.

South Korea's intelligence agency reported that North Korea could produce a significant number of nuclear weapons and may conduct another nuclear test after the US elections.&nbsp;

Yeol urged the Kim's regime to abandon "delusions" that nuclear weapons guarantee its security, vowing to build a strong military and strengthen the security posture based on the strong alliance with the US, as well as trilateral cooperation involving Japan.

“False peace, based on the enemy's goodwill, is nothing but a mirage," he said. "History has proven that the only way to safeguard peace is by strengthening our power so the enemy cannot dare challenge us."

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that any use of nuclear weapons against Seoul would lead to the end of his regime. Yeol was speaking during an event marking the 76th Armed Forces Day, as North Korea has intensified its nuclear threats with the first public disclosure of its uranium enrichment facility last month.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warned North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that any use of nuclear weapons against Seoul would lead to the end of his regime. Yeol was speaking during an event marking the 76th Armed Forces Day, as North Korea has intensified its nuclear threats with the first public disclosure of its uranium enrichment facility last month. He further underscored the strength of South Korea's alliance with the US, which currently has thousands of troops in the country. Also read: North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles for second time in a week "Our military will immediately retaliate against North Korea's provocations based on its robust combat capabilities and solid readiness posture," Yoon said during a commemorative ceremony at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, just south of the capital. "If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face the resolute and overwhelming response of our military and the South Korea-US alliance. That day will be the end of the North Korean regime," he added. The South Korean president also noted North Korea's move to send trash balloons and GPS jamming attacks on its territory. Watch | UN Nuclear Chief On North Korea's Nuclear Program × "After committing despicable types of provocations like sending trash balloons and GPS jamming attacks, they have now gone so far as to claim a 'two hostile states' theory, even denying the possibility of reunification," he said. South Korea's intelligence agency reported that North Korea could produce a significant number of nuclear weapons and may conduct another nuclear test after the US elections. Yeol urged the Kim's regime to abandon "delusions" that nuclear weapons guarantee its security, vowing to build a strong military and strengthen the security posture based on the strong alliance with the US, as well as trilateral cooperation involving Japan. “False peace, based on the enemy's goodwill, is nothing but a mirage," he said. "History has proven that the only way to safeguard peace is by strengthening our power so the enemy cannot dare challenge us." (With inputs from agencies)

South Korea  warns North of ‘end of Kim’s regime’ if it uses nuclear weapons

United Nations nuclear agency chief Rafael Grossi has reacted to North Korea's possession of nuclear weapons. In an interview he said that the world must pursue dialogue with the DPRK despite its violations of UN sanctions and international law.

UN Nuclear Chief On North Korea's Nuclear Program

UN Nuclear Chief On North Korea's Nuclear Program: IAEA Chief Warns Of Wider Nuclear Threat

Border&nbsp;police&nbsp;in China's northeast have been given&nbsp;quotas&nbsp;to identify and expel undocumented migrants, one key aspect of broader surveillance that is making it harder for North Korean defectors to evade capture, according to previously undisclosed official documents and a dozen people familiar with the matter.

China has implemented new deportation centres, hundreds of smart facial-recognition cameras and extra boat patrols along its 1,400-kilometre frontier with North Korea, according to a Reuters review of more than 100 publicly available government documents that outline spending on border surveillance and infrastructure.&nbsp;

In addition, Chinese&nbsp;police&nbsp;have begun to closely monitor the social media accounts of North Koreans in China, and collect their fingerprints, voice and facial data, four defectors and two missionaries told Reuters.&nbsp;Stephen Kim, a missionary who helps North Koreans defect, told Reuters that based on his contacts with some 2,000 defectors, more than 90% of those currently in China had registered personal and biometric data with the&nbsp;police.&nbsp;

The measures took effect since the COVID-19 pandemic and have ramped up from 2023.

Cracking down on unauthorised migration helps Beijing manage a thorny issue in ties with Pyongyang while ensuring stability on China's periphery, according to eight people, including security scholars, rights activists and a former North Korean official. It also gives China potential leverage over its neighbour because Beijing can control the fate of these undocumented North Koreans, several of them said.

"But primarily, China has feared that if too many North Koreans find refuge in China, more and more North Koreans would follow suit, and in time the outflow would destabilize North Korea and lead to reunification under South Korea and to the expansion of U.S. political and military influence on the peninsula," said Roberta Cohen, a human rights specialist and a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state.

China's National Immigration Administration, which is responsible for border&nbsp;police, and the Ministry of Public Security, which oversees the immigration agency, did not respond to queries about efforts to identify and deport North Koreans.&nbsp;

Beijing's Foreign Ministry said China protected "the rights and interests of foreigners in China, while lawfully maintaining the order of border entries and exits". It said the "relevant report is completely not factual", in an apparent reference to Reuters reporting. The ministry didn't respond to additional questions about Reuters findings and which elements it considered incorrect.

North Korea's embassy in Beijing and its U.N. missions in Geneva and New York didn't respond to questions about China's handling of defectors.

While the documents don't explicitly identify North Koreans as targets of the surveillance and deportations, the measures are focused on areas adjoining North Korea.&nbsp;

Reuters found little evidence of similar actions at China's other borders, except its porous frontier with Myanmar, where China has been tackling organised crime and recently opened a deportation centre.

In a statement, Myanmar's government said 48,000 of its nationals were repatriated from China between 2022 and August 2024. Both countries collaborate on border management to ensure stability, it added.

<h2>Border patrol</h2>

Among the documents examined by Reuters was the 2024 budget for China's border&nbsp;police&nbsp;in Jilin province, which adjoins North Korea.

Of 163 million yuan in spending, almost 30 million yuan went to border security upgrades. That included 22.3 million yuan for an unspecified number of new patrol boats, and funding for "deportation and repatriation" of foreigners that illegally enter, live and work in Jilin.

The budget set goals for 18 border&nbsp;police&nbsp;stations and teams: Investigate and "deal with" at least 10 undocumented foreigners; spend no more than 30 days to process each deportation; and remind residents of the "harm and price paid" for aiding undocumented migrants. It lists performance metrics, including 10 points for achieving a repatriation rate of 95%.

There were no such&nbsp;quotas&nbsp;in the 2023 and 2022 budgets.

Construction also began last year on a deportation station in the border city of Dandong, in Liaoning province, while another is planned for Changchun city, in Jilin, government tenders show.

In March, Jilin border&nbsp;police&nbsp;awarded a 26.5 million-yuan contract to a Beijing sensor maker, HT Nova, to build a surveillance system that "emits high-energy rays to penetrate vehicles and goods" and can use deep learning to continuously improve its facial-recognition capabilities, according to one tender document.&nbsp;

The system, funded in the 2023 border&nbsp;police&nbsp;budget, would be installed at two crossings in the Changbai area, a route defectors use. The company didn't respond to a request for comment.

Separately, a 7,713 square-metre deportation station in the town of Tumen, which was in the works before the pandemic, was completed in 2023, according to the National Immigration Administration.

Since June 2022, the agency has published several job ads seeking graduates with Korean-language ability to work at the Tumen and Changchun facilities, who would be "mainly engaged in the detention of illegal immigrants pending deportation, identity verification, and implementation of repatriation".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/north-koreas-evolving-military-threats-chinas-increasing-assertiveness-world-news-wion-648003">Watch |&nbsp;North Korea's evolving military threats; China's increasing assertiveness | World News | WION</a>

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&nbsp;

<h2>Political dynamics</h2>

Beijing denies that there are any North Korean defectors, instead treating them as illegal economic migrants. There is no publicly available data on deportations of North Koreans, but rights groups say the tighter surveillance has increased the risk of capture.

About 70 per cent&nbsp;of defectors who tried to reach South Korea over the past two years have been arrested by Chinese&nbsp;police, up from about 20 per cent&nbsp;previously, according to the Seoul-based Transitional Justice Working Group, which monitors deportations. China returned at least 60 North Koreans in April, said the group's executive director, Lee Younghwan.

The number of defectors reaching South Korea has declined overall since 2017, which Seoul's Unification Ministry said was due to tighter surveillance on the China-North Korea border, though there has been an increase since the pandemic ended.

In a statement, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Seoul is making "all-out efforts" to prevent China from forcibly repatriating North Korean defectors.

Five security scholars told Reuters that while both sides wanted to stanch the flow of defectors, China's ability to determine defectors' destiny gave it a card to play in diplomacy with North Korea, which is reliant on trade with China but has been forging increasingly close ties with Russia.&nbsp;

China "can demand something from North Korea that is beneficial to China", said Lee Dong Gyu, a China expert at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. He said the crackdown helped&nbsp;Beijing from a stability standpoint, because North Korea was in economic turmoil and China did not want the effects of that spilling into its territory.

Lee Jung-hoon, an international relations professor at Yonsei University and a former South Korean ambassador-at-large for North Korean human rights, said there was a "high chance" that Pyongyang had asked China for help in blocking routes for defectors. He didn't provide specifics and Reuters could not establish whether North Korea had made such a request.

<h2>'Trapped'</h2>

This isn't the first time that China has cracked down on defectors. Reuters reported in 2019 that Chinese authorities had conducted raids that disrupted defector networks and resulted in the arrests of at least 30 North Koreans.&nbsp;

But some defectors say the heightened surveillance has intensified fear.&nbsp;

Choi Min-kyong, who reached South Korea in 2012 and runs a support group for defectors, said widespread facial-recognition technology in China made it difficult for defectors to move around. Using public transportation, for example, had become too risky.

Shin Ju-ye, who fled North Korea in the 1990s and settled in China's Heilongjiang province, said that during the pandemic, village officials began ordering North Koreans to register their biometric information with the&nbsp;police.&nbsp;Many of her North Korean friends complied, then regretted it, she said.

"My friends told me, 'Sister, don't do it. We are trapped in a fishing net now. If North Korea tells China to catch and send us, we're dead,'" Shin, 50, said in an interview in Seoul.

Reuters could not independently verify Shin's account, and she declined to share her acquaintances' contact information.&nbsp;

Wei Songxian, head of the Heilongjiang government's media office and vice-head of the provincial Communist Party publicity department, did not respond to questions about Shin's account.

Ultimately, Shin did not register her details. Instead, she hatched a plan to leave China.&nbsp;

Travelling in private vehicles, she escaped across the southern border to Vietnam, she said. She then ventured onward by bus, boat and on foot to reach Laos and Thailand, where she was handed to South Korean authorities. She arrived in South Korea in 2023.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Border police in China's northeast have been given quotas to identify and expel undocumented migrants, one key aspect of broader surveillance that is making it harder for North Korean defectors to evade capture, according to previously undisclosed official documents and a dozen people familiar with the matter.

Border police in China's northeast have been given quotas to identify and expel undocumented migrants, one key aspect of broader surveillance that is making it harder for North Korean defectors to evade capture, according to previously undisclosed official documents and a dozen people familiar with the matter. China has implemented new deportation centres, hundreds of smart facial-recognition cameras and extra boat patrols along its 1,400-kilometre frontier with North Korea, according to a Reuters review of more than 100 publicly available government documents that outline spending on border surveillance and infrastructure. In addition, Chinese police have begun to closely monitor the social media accounts of North Koreans in China, and collect their fingerprints, voice and facial data, four defectors and two missionaries told Reuters. Stephen Kim, a missionary who helps North Koreans defect, told Reuters that based on his contacts with some 2,000 defectors, more than 90% of those currently in China had registered personal and biometric data with the police. The measures took effect since the COVID-19 pandemic and have ramped up from 2023. Cracking down on unauthorised migration helps Beijing manage a thorny issue in ties with Pyongyang while ensuring stability on China's periphery, according to eight people, including security scholars, rights activists and a former North Korean official. It also gives China potential leverage over its neighbour because Beijing can control the fate of these undocumented North Koreans, several of them said. "But primarily, China has feared that if too many North Koreans find refuge in China, more and more North Koreans would follow suit, and in time the outflow would destabilize North Korea and lead to reunification under South Korea and to the expansion of U.S. political and military influence on the peninsula," said Roberta Cohen, a human rights specialist and a former U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state. China's National Immigration Administration, which is responsible for border police, and the Ministry of Public Security, which oversees the immigration agency, did not respond to queries about efforts to identify and deport North Koreans. Beijing's Foreign Ministry said China protected "the rights and interests of foreigners in China, while lawfully maintaining the order of border entries and exits". It said the "relevant report is completely not factual", in an apparent reference to Reuters reporting. The ministry didn't respond to additional questions about Reuters findings and which elements it considered incorrect. North Korea's embassy in Beijing and its U.N. missions in Geneva and New York didn't respond to questions about China's handling of defectors. While the documents don't explicitly identify North Koreans as targets of the surveillance and deportations, the measures are focused on areas adjoining North Korea. Reuters found little evidence of similar actions at China's other borders, except its porous frontier with Myanmar, where China has been tackling organised crime and recently opened a deportation centre. In a statement, Myanmar's government said 48,000 of its nationals were repatriated from China between 2022 and August 2024. Both countries collaborate on border management to ensure stability, it added. Border patrol Among the documents examined by Reuters was the 2024 budget for China's border police in Jilin province, which adjoins North Korea. Of 163 million yuan in spending, almost 30 million yuan went to border security upgrades. That included 22.3 million yuan for an unspecified number of new patrol boats, and funding for "deportation and repatriation" of foreigners that illegally enter, live and work in Jilin. The budget set goals for 18 border police stations and teams: Investigate and "deal with" at least 10 undocumented foreigners; spend no more than 30 days to process each deportation; and remind residents of the "harm and price paid" for aiding undocumented migrants. It lists performance metrics, including 10 points for achieving a repatriation rate of 95%. There were no such quotas in the 2023 and 2022 budgets. Construction also began last year on a deportation station in the border city of Dandong, in Liaoning province, while another is planned for Changchun city, in Jilin, government tenders show. In March, Jilin border police awarded a 26.5 million-yuan contract to a Beijing sensor maker, HT Nova, to build a surveillance system that "emits high-energy rays to penetrate vehicles and goods" and can use deep learning to continuously improve its facial-recognition capabilities, according to one tender document. The system, funded in the 2023 border police budget, would be installed at two crossings in the Changbai area, a route defectors use. The company didn't respond to a request for comment. Separately, a 7,713 square-metre deportation station in the town of Tumen, which was in the works before the pandemic, was completed in 2023, according to the National Immigration Administration. Since June 2022, the agency has published several job ads seeking graduates with Korean-language ability to work at the Tumen and Changchun facilities, who would be "mainly engaged in the detention of illegal immigrants pending deportation, identity verification, and implementation of repatriation". Watch | North Korea's evolving military threats; China's increasing assertiveness | World News | WION iv class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"> × Political dynamics Beijing denies that there are any North Korean defectors, instead treating them as illegal economic migrants. There is no publicly available data on deportations of North Koreans, but rights groups say the tighter surveillance has increased the risk of capture. About 70 per cent of defectors who tried to reach South Korea over the past two years have been arrested by Chinese police, up from about 20 per cent previously, according to the Seoul-based Transitional Justice Working Group, which monitors deportations. China returned at least 60 North Koreans in April, said the group's executive director, Lee Younghwan. The number of defectors reaching South Korea has declined overall since 2017, which Seoul's Unification Ministry said was due to tighter surveillance on the China-North Korea border, though there has been an increase since the pandemic ended. In a statement, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said Seoul is making "all-out efforts" to prevent China from forcibly repatriating North Korean defectors. Five security scholars told Reuters that while both sides wanted to stanch the flow of defectors, China's ability to determine defectors' destiny gave it a card to play in diplomacy with North Korea, which is reliant on trade with China but has been forging increasingly close ties with Russia. China "can demand something from North Korea that is beneficial to China", said Lee Dong Gyu, a China expert at Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. He said the crackdown helped Beijing from a stability standpoint, because North Korea was in economic turmoil and China did not want the effects of that spilling into its territory. Lee Jung-hoon, an international relations professor at Yonsei University and a former South Korean ambassador-at-large for North Korean human rights, said there was a "high chance" that Pyongyang had asked China for help in blocking routes for defectors. He didn't provide specifics and Reuters could not establish whether North Korea had made such a request. 'Trapped' This isn't the first time that China has cracked down on defectors. Reuters reported in 2019 that Chinese authorities had conducted raids that disrupted defector networks and resulted in the arrests of at least 30 North Koreans. But some defectors say the heightened surveillance has intensified fear. Choi Min-kyong, who reached South Korea in 2012 and runs a support group for defectors, said widespread facial-recognition technology in China made it difficult for defectors to move around. Using public transportation, for example, had become too risky. Shin Ju-ye, who fled North Korea in the 1990s and settled in China's Heilongjiang province, said that during the pandemic, village officials began ordering North Koreans to register their biometric information with the police. Many of her North Korean friends complied, then regretted it, she said. "My friends told me, 'Sister, don't do it. We are trapped in a fishing net now. If North Korea tells China to catch and send us, we're dead,'" Shin, 50, said in an interview in Seoul. Reuters could not independently verify Shin's account, and she declined to share her acquaintances' contact information. Wei Songxian, head of the Heilongjiang government's media office and vice-head of the provincial Communist Party publicity department, did not respond to questions about Shin's account. Ultimately, Shin did not register her details. Instead, she hatched a plan to leave China. Travelling in private vehicles, she escaped across the southern border to Vietnam, she said. She then ventured onward by bus, boat and on foot to reach Laos and Thailand, where she was handed to South Korean authorities. She arrived in South Korea in 2023. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Police quotas and surveillance trap: Here's how China is deporting North Korean defectors

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