A top US military commander has revealed that North Korea is set to receive fighter jets from Russia in exchange for sending thousands of troops to support Moscow's war effort in Ukraine.
Admiral Samuel Paparo, who leads the US Indo-Pacific Command, disclosed that Russia will transfer MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter aircraft to North Korea. While these Soviet-era planes were introduced 40 years ago, they would still substantially boost North Korea's air power capabilities.
The arrangement comes after reports, confirmed by the Pentagon, that thousands of North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia's Kursk region near the Ukrainian front. While these troops are positioned in combat zones, Admiral Paparo noted they have not yet engaged in direct fighting - a claim that contradicts statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
South Korea's defense ministry previously reported that Russia had already provided North Korea with air defense missiles in exchange for fresh troops. Seoul has also accused Pyongyang of shipping large quantities of ammunition to replenish Russia's military supplies.
The growing military partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang has raised concerns among Western nations. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described the presence of North Korean forces as a "dangerous and destabilizing escalation." There are particular worries that this cooperation could lead to transfers of nuclear technology that would aid North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, which are under UN sanctions.
Both Russia and North Korea have denied the presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine, despite signing a military cooperation agreement over the summer. The two nations maintain that their strengthening alliance should only worry countries planning to attack them.
This development marks a notable shift in military dynamics, as North Korea seeks to modernize its aging air fleet while Russia gains additional ground forces for its ongoing conflict in Ukraine.