Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
But they are not soldiers.
But they are not soldiers.
What is happening?
According to Japan’s public broadcaster, NHK, North Korea is considering sending as many as 25,000 citizens to Russia.
The medie cited unnamed diplomatic sources in both the West and Russia.
Boost Shahed production
The 25,000 North Koreans in question are not soldiers, though.
They are workers meant to boost the Russian domestic mass production of Shahed drones.
Just East of Moscow
The workers would reportedly be sent to the Alabuga Special Economic Zone.
It’s located in the Republic of Tartarstan just East of Moscow, and Russia operates a facility for assempbling Shahed drones there.
What Kim Jong-Un wants in return
Quid pro quo, as the term goes, and the North Korean leader, Kim Jon-Un, allegedly wants drone operation training in return for sending the vast amount of workers.
In the Ukrainian crosshairs
The Albuga site has been repeatedly struck by Ukrainian forces in an attempt to disrupt the production of Shahed drones.
The latest attack happened as recent as Sunday June 15.
Ramping up military cooperation
According to NHK, Moscow and Pyongyang have ingaged in a series of rabid developments in military cooperation lately.
After a meeting on June 17, Pyongyang is reported to have agreeed to send 1000 combat engineers and 5000 military builders to the Russian region of Kursk.
Shahed-production in North Korea?
Oe June 9, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, reported that North Korea and Russia had agreed to start establishing production of Shahed drones on North Korean soil.