DPRK sends its combat pilots to Russia — they may take part in aggression against Ukraine

In addition to ground troops, North Korea also sent fighter pilots to join Russia's war against Ukraine. These pilots know how to fly Russian military aircraft, as the DPRK's aviation consists of Soviet and Russian fighter jets.

This was reported by Newsweek.

Experts explain the deployment of pilots

An anonymous government official in South Korea stated that last month, North Korea sent fighter pilots to Vladivostok. 

The North Korean pilots may have arrived in Russia for training on Russian fighter jets that are being supplied to North Korea. However, experts interviewed by the publication suggest that it is also possible that Russia, facing a shortage of pilots during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, may have sought assistance from the North.

According to Newsweek, this would mark the first overseas deployment of North Korean fighter pilots since the Vietnam War. North Korean pilots also operated in Syria and Egypt during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

Let us recall that U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin commented on reports regarding the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine.

Previously, we wrote that French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia for involvement in the war against Ukraine could lead to a new escalation of the conflict — with the war potentially spreading to Asia as well.