US official says 'no evidence', NIS 'captured', South Korean media manipulates media by 'dispatch of North Korean troops'
A US official told the New York Times on the 16th that there was 'no evidence', and on the 18th, the NIS announced in a press release that it had 'captured', and South Korean media manipulated the media by amplifying the report as 'dispatch of North Korean troops'.
The NYT reported on the 16th that "the war in Ukraine is providing the North Korean military with something it has long wanted: a chance to test new weapons and the readiness of its officers for modern warfare, South Korean analysts and officials said Wednesday (the 16th)." "There have been unconfirmed reports of North Korean civilians killed in the Ukrainian attack, but US officials say they are new soldiers. One official said he would not be surprised if North Korea sent troops for training and perhaps combat, but said there is no evidence yet."
The National Intelligence Service announced in a press release on the 18th, “While monitoring the North Korean military’s movements, we captured North Korean special forces being transported to Russia via a Russian naval transport ship from the 8th to the 12th, and confirmed the start of the North Korean military’s participation in the war.”
On the night of the 18th at 11:00, JTBS reported under the title, “The ‘Storm Corps’ North Korea dispatched to Russia is an elite special forces unit,” “This is a satellite photo provided by the National Intelligence Service. On the 16th, approximately 400 North Korean soldiers were gathered at a military facility in the Russian Maritime Province. On the same day, approximately 240 North Korean soldiers were captured at a military facility in Khabarovsk, Russia. It was confirmed that North Korea began to dispatch large-scale special forces to the Ukrainian War to support Russia.”
The report showed a typical example of media manipulation, amplifying and expanding the article terms such as “presumed,” “captured,” and “confirmed dispatch.”
On the 18th, White House National Security Council (NSC) Spokesperson Sean Sabet said in a commentary on the South Korean National Intelligence Service announcement that North Korea had dispatched troops to Russia, “We cannot confirm whether this report is accurate, but if it is true, it would be a dangerous development in the war between Russia and Ukraine,” according to Voice of America (VOA).
On the 19th, the Chosun Ilbo reported in its article, <[Editorial] “North Korea’s decision to dispatch 10,000 troops”, what is Russia’s countermeasure>, <On the 18th, the government stated, “It has been determined that North Korea recently decided to dispatch four brigades, including special forces, totaling 12,000 troops to the war in Ukraine.” The National Intelligence Service said, “About 1,500 troops have already been dispatched.” President Yoon Seok-yeol presided over an emergency security meeting that day.>
The Chosun Ilbo reported on the 18th at 11 p.m., under the headline <North Korea also sends elite ‘Storm Corps’… 12,000 troops to Ukraine>, that <Our intelligence authorities have determined that North Korea has decided to send a large number of troops to the Ukraine war to help Russia and has begun moving troops. It has been reported that North Korea is sending an elite unit under the Special Operations Forces called the ‘Storm Corps’ to Russia> and that <The National Intelligence Service announced on the 18th, “It has been determined that North Korea recently decided to send a total of 12,000 troops from 4 brigades including special forces to the Ukraine war.”>
KBS reported on the 18th at 4 p.m., that <President Yoon presides over an emergency meeting on ‘North Korea’s dispatch of troops to Russia’… “Mobilizing all means to respond”> In the title, “Today’s meeting, held to comprehensively review the impact on our security of the North Korean military’s deployment of troops to Russia and its participation in the Ukrainian War, and to discuss future response measures, was attended by key officials from the National Security Office, the Ministry of National Defense, and the National Intelligence Service.”
On the 19th, at 6 o’clock in Seoul, Yomiuri reported, “According to the National Intelligence Service, a South Korean intelligence agency, 1,500 special forces who arrived in Russia on Russian naval transport planes from the 8th to the 13th were dispersed to Vladivostok and Khabarovsk to join the Russian military and were issued Russian military uniforms and Russian-made weapons.” <They are currently undergoing training for frontline introduction. The National Intelligence Service also issued identification cards to the special forces disguised as local residents with similar facial features to the North Korean military, and the National Intelligence Service stated, “(Russia) is trying to conceal the North Korean military’s entry into the front lines.” The second shipment is expected to begin in the near future.>
‘Korea Economic Daily’ reported on the evening of the 18th at 8:00 PM, “North Korea’s elite troops to be deployed to the battlefield next month… <“First stage of world war”> with the title <“North Korea dispatches 12,000 special forces to Ukraine”, National Intelligence Service officially confirms North Korean military participation>>
MBC reported on the 19th with the title <North Korea participates in Ukraine war… “1,500 troops to Russia”>.
JIBS reported on the 19th at 12 o’clock <National Intelligence Service “North Korea dispatches large-scale troops to participate in Russian war”>.
AP reported on the 18th, “South Korea’s intelligence agency announced on Friday (18th) that North Korea dispatched troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine. If this measure is confirmed, it could drag a third country into the war and intensify the conflict between North Korea and the West,” and “South Korea’s announcement came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that his government has information that 10,000 North Korean troops are preparing to join the Russian military fighting against his country.”
MBN reported On the 19th, in an article titled <North Korea's troop deployment to Ukraine 'heightens tensions' around the world>, "Bruce Bennett, a senior researcher at the RAND Corporation, a U.S. foreign policy and security think tank, even predicted that North Korea's deployment could turn the situation in Ukraine in Russia's favor." <Researcher Bennett said, "The North Korean military may not have combat experience, but they are different from the Russian military, which is mostly made up of new recruits. They have been in the military for a long time and are cohesive. They could go there and be quite strong. It's currently a stalemate with Russia having a slight upper hand, but (North Korea's deployment) could probably shorten the war. "If Russia makes a major breakthrough, the war could end in about a year," he claimed.
Yonhap News reported on the 19th, "The Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security (SPRAVDI) under the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture announced on the 18th that it had newly obtained video footage of North Korean soldiers receiving Russian military equipment at the 'Sergievsky Training Center' and posted the video on its social media account X." "The 27-second video attached to the post shows Asian soldiers standing in line and receiving various items one by one from Western soldiers."
The article continued, "In the video, you can hear voices in a North Korean accent saying, "Don't cross over," "Come out, ya," and "Ya, ya, ya." <SPRAVDI explained that the video was obtained less than 72 hours ago and that the North Korean soldiers in the video are preparing for deployment to Ukraine at the Sergievsky Training Center in Primorsky Krai.> <It has not been objectively verified whether this video actually shows North Korean soldiers training in Russia.>
On the 19th, the Hankyoreh reported that <an official from the National Security Office said in a phone call with the Hankyoreh, “We have officially informed you today of what we have confirmed (at the government level),” and “We have confirmed the dispatch of troops and officially confirmed it (to the press), and additional information will be updated later, but since it is an intelligence field, it is difficult for the Office of the President to disclose it first.”
The article continued by reporting that <the National Intelligence Service said that afternoon, “We have learned that North Korea recently decided to dispatch 4 brigades, including special forces, totaling 12,000 troops to the war in Ukraine. The movement of North Korean troops has already begun.”
The New York Times reported on the 16th that <in recent weeks, Ukrainian officials, including President Zelensky, have said that in addition to providing Russia with a large number of shells and ballistic missiles, North Korea is sending military technicians and soldiers to fight alongside the Russian military. Last week, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun said that it was “very likely” that several North Korean soldiers had already died in combat, and that North Korea would send more troops to help Russia.> reported.
The New York Times reported that “Neither Ukraine nor South Korea have provided evidence of North Korean troops. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on the 16th that the allies do not have solid information about the possibility,” and “U.S. intelligence and military officials have expressed some skepticism about Ukraine’s claim that North Korean mercenaries are currently fighting Ukrainian forces in significant numbers. However, they said there is no doubt that North Korean engineers and observers are stationed in parts of Russia and Ukraine, working to build and operate North Korean-made ballistic missiles purchased by Russia,” and reported that “the U.S. is skeptical” about the “U.S. announcement of the U.S. troop deployment,” and the National Intelligence Service, South Korean media, and President Yoon immediately responded with amplified responses.
The subtitle of the New York Times article stated that “Helping Russia in the war is an opportunity for North Korea to test new weapons, and Ukrainian officials say the North Korean military is also gaining direct combat experience.”
On the 18th, Han Dong-hoon, the leader of the People Power Party, officially announced North Korea’s participation in the war through SNS, saying, “North Korea’s participation has confirmed that North Korea and Russia are a solid ‘military alliance. ’” He also said, “There is also the possibility that Russia will provide key source technologies such as the construction of nuclear submarines, intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) reentry technology, and anti-aircraft missiles as quid pro quo for North Korea’s participation in the war.”
Ukrainian President Zelensky said at a press conference at the EU summit in Belgium on the 17th, "According to our intelligence, North Korea is preparing a total of about 10,000 troops, including ground forces, engineers, and other types of personnel, to fight against Ukraine on the side of Russia."