These soldiers are undergoing training at five training grounds in the eastern part of the Russian Federation, Kislitsa reported.
This contingent includes at least 500 officers from the DPRK army, including three generals. In the speech that Kislitsa published on Facebook, the names of these generals from the General Staff of the DPRK army were mentioned:
- Colonel General Kim Yong Bok – Deputy Chief of the General Staff for Special Operations;
- Colonel General Lee Chang Ho – Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Head of the Intelligence Directorate;
- Major General Shin Gêm Chol – Head of the Main Operational Directorate.
He mentioned that in the future, Russia plans to form at least five units or formations from North Korean military personnel, each consisting of 2,000 to 3,000 servicemen.
"One such unit is equivalent to a motorized rifle regiment. It is expected that DPRK servicemen will wear Russian uniforms and use Russian firearms. They will also be provided with Russian identity documents. Notably, to conceal the presence of DPRK servicemen, they will be integrated into Russian units staffed by representatives of ethnic minorities from the Asian part of Russia. Among them is, for example, the "special Buryat battalion" of the 11th Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Russian Airborne Troops," Kislitsa added.
The Ukrainian diplomat reported that from October 23rd to 28th, at least seven planes were sent from the eastern part of Russia to the border with Ukraine, carrying 2,100 military personnel. Ukraine believes that the number of North Korean soldiers transferred from the eastern part of Russia will reach 4,500. They are expected to start directly participating in combat operations in November.
In the western part of the Kursk region of Russia, 400 North Koreans have already been redeployed, he stated.