North Korea Deploys Military Workers to Aid Russian Reconstruction

In a significant move highlighting burgeoning ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, North Korea is dispatching thousands of military construction workers and sappers to Russia's Kursk region. These workers are tasked with rebuilding infrastructure damaged during a Ukrainian incursion earlier this year, according to Sergei Shoigu, Russia's Security Council secretary.

Shoigu visited North Korea recently, delivering special instructions from President Vladimir Putin. This follows North Korea's pivotal role in helping Russia repel the Ukrainian forces, marking a deepening alliance as both nations face a perceived hostile West. The cooperation extends to plans for resuming direct flights between Moscow and Pyongyang after over thirty years.

The collaboration is under scrutiny from international observers, including the U.S. and South Korea, who allege North Korean military support for Russia's conflict in Ukraine. Despite the geopolitical tensions, the partnership appears robust, underscored by a new strategic partnership treaty signed in June 2024.

(With inputs from agencies.)