'North Korea's dispatch of troops to Russia' Why the West doesn't 'official confirmation'

The possibility that the U.S. is different information evaluation from the South Korean government
"South Korean government uses North Korea's information for domestic politics"
The possibility of delaying "official confirmation" due to the impact of the U.S. presidential election

[Anchor]
Another video has been released that appears to be North Korean troops dispatched to Russia.

However, the U.S. and NATO still have not officially recognized North Korea's dispatch to Russia.

What is the reason for the West's prudence?

Reporter Kwon Young-hee reports.

[Reporter]
This is a video clip that is believed to show the North Korean military arriving in Vladivostok, released by the Russian independent media.

It is known as the 44980th Unit Base of the 127th Russian Power Rifle Division in the village of Sergeevka.

"A wonderful ally has arrived from North Korea and I hope the war ends," the videographer says in the local language.

Soldiers believed to be North Korean soldiers are seen smoking or talking.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has repeatedly claimed that the North Korean military will soon be ready to join the fighting in Ukraine.

[Volodymyr Zelensky / Ukrainian President: We have information that two North Korean brigades (6,000 men each) are being trained. This is a provocation.]

The South Korean government also announced the dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia, but the official U.S. position is still "unconfirmed."

[Pat Ryder/U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson: We will continue to update as soon as information is available, and of course, we are in talks with our allies around the world on this subject]

It is unusual considering that the intelligence authorities of South Korea and the U.S. have been closely monitoring the movements of the North Korean military with military satellites and sharing related information.

It can also be interpreted as meaning that the Korean government's announcement is exaggerated or that the information evaluation is different.

Some experts raise doubts that South Korea uses North Korean intelligence for domestic politics.

Some observers say that it is delaying the "official confirmation" because of the impact on the U.S. presidential election.

From the perspective of the United States and NATO, there is a burden to take action in response to formalizing North Korea's participation in the war.

For this reason, it is possible to determine whether the North Korean military participates in the battle directly or only supports the rear.

[Marc Rutter / Secretary-General of NATO] It is a very important issue. I can't confirm it except that I can get the latest information from Korea early next week.]

The Washington Post, citing a senior NATO official, said observers may have been deployed to deal with weapons supported by Russia, not special forces.

I'm YTN's Kwon Younghee.



Video editing: Lim Hyun-chul