ANKARA

The South Korean intelligence agency on Thursday claimed that North Korea is likely to send more troops to Russia in the next two months, according to local media reports.

The National Intelligence Service officials briefed the lawmakers during a closed-door briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee, saying North Korea is likely to send additional troops in July or August to support Russia in its ongoing war with Ukraine, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Rep. Park Sun-won of the ruling Democratic Party and Rep. Lee Seong-kweun of the main opposition People Power Party told reporters after the briefing that North Korea seems to have already begun a recruitment process for the additional deployment to Russia.

North Korea deployed thousands of soldiers to aid Russia in the Ukraine war, following the signing of a partnership pact by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim in Pyongyang in June 2024.

The pact requires extending military support in case either side is attacked by a third party.

Last week, Russian security chief Sergey Shoygu said North Korea will send 6,000 personnel to Russia, including 1,000 combat engineers and 5,000 military builders, to assist in mine clearance and reconstruction efforts in the Kursk region, bordering Ukraine.

In April, the South Korean spy agency claimed that North Korea has likely had more than 4,700 casualties overall, including 600 confirmed fatalities while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Russia-Ukraine war.