Politics

How North Korea is changing Russia’s war in Ukraine

Published

1 year ago

October 25, 2024

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (R) are strengthening their ties © Vladimir Smirnov/POOL/TASS/dpa/picture alliance

Signs are mounting that North Korean soldiers are fighting on Russia’s side in Ukraine. Kyiv is already talking about a new war party. In what ways could heightened North Korean-Russian ties affect the war?

In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin traveled to Pyongyang to discuss a security partnership with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Prior to this, there had been rumors of extensive North Korean arms deliveries to Russia. And as early as 2023, the Ukrainian military intelligence had reported that a limited North Korean military contingent had arrived in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

Now, latest findings by South Korean national intelligence service (NIS) indicate that the North Korean-Russian ties have reached new heights.

North Korean soldiers in Russia

According to a report published last Friday, Pyongyang wants to provide up to 12,000 soldiersfor Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Of these, 1,500 were said to have already disembarked in the Russian port city of Vladivostok. Meanwhile, the NIS has upped this number to around 3,000 soldiers.

It would appear that North Korean soldiers are to be issued Russian uniforms in order to conceal their identity. DW’s fact-checking team was able to confirm that the footage provided by the NIS shows locations in Russia’s eastern military districts.

Neither Russia nor North Korea have yet officially confirmed the findings.

“At the moment, there is little concrete information and a lot of vague speculation,” Nico Lange, a senior fellow at the Munich Security Conference, told DW.

“But there is no doubt that North Koreans are in Russia for training,” he added. “And there is also no doubt that for some time now (…) construction units of the North Korean armed forces have been active in the occupied territories in Ukraine.”

And yet, he also cautions not to draw the conclusion that 12,000 North Korean soldiers were now fighting in Russian trenches across Ukraine. “That’s not what we’ve been observing so far,” he said.

As of now, neither North Korean leader Kim Jong Un nor Russia’s President Vladimir Putin have confirmed shipments of weapons or the deployment of soldiers.
© Vladimir Smirnov/POOL/TASS/dpa/picture alliance

Western restraint

From a Ukrainian perspective, however, all of this is still a concerning development.

While Russia’s head of state Putin presented himself as a respectable host at the BRICS summit this week, Kyiv is growing increasingly worried over waning support for Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “victory plan” has so far failed to gain traction. Furthermore, Ukraine fears that Republican nominee Donald Trump, who wants to cut arms aid and recently blamed the Ukrainian president for Russia’s invasion, will win the US presidential election in early November.

As of now, it remains to be seen in what way the US will handle an escalation in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Washington is, after all, not only the biggest supporter of Ukraine, but also a protective power for South Korea.

The US was the first NATO member to refer to “evidence” of the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. But beyond that, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has kept rather quiet.

The North Korean-Russian ties will likely be an issue for the upcoming US administration — whether under Republican or Democratic leadership.

Lange believes that Europe is waiting to see what the outcome of the US elections will be.

“At the moment, I don’t see the major European states coming together to develop a common strategy: What do we want to achieve in Ukraine? How will we deal with Russia and Russia’s supporters? How can we achieve this together? That’s what we’d need,” he said.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed that North Korea has decided to send troops to Russia
© Sopa/Sipa/picture alliance

Europe’s failure

On Wednesday, NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhallah in Brussels told DW that if North Korean troops were indeed designated to fight in Ukraine, “it would mark a significant escalation in North Korea’s support for Russia’s illegal war and yet another sign of Russia’s significant losses on the front lines.” She added that the alliance was actively consulting on the matter.

According to Roderich Kiesewetter of the German Christian Democratic Union, Germany’s largest opposition party in the Bundestag, it was a “fatal omission” that Europe had not yet reacted to North Korea’s suspected troop deployment.

A united and decisive reaction of strength and deterrence is absolutely necessary, he told DW. “Many European countries have wanted this for a long time,” he added. Germany also had to alter its stance, he said, by reducing range restrictions on delivered weapons, providing more weapons systems to Ukraine, and issuing an invitation to join the NATO alliance.

Meanwhile, Berlin’s Federal Foreign Office summoned North Korea’s chargé d’affaires on Wednesday. In the meeting, Berlin made clear that supporting Russia’s war of aggression posed a threat to German security and peace in Europe.

Temporary ties

Earlier in October, when the indications of deeper Russian-North Korean cooperation began to intensify, DW spoke to Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul.

“Russia may benefit from this to avoid mobilization,” he told DW, adding that “if you look at it from the Russian point of view, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is fighting a war that is generally popular in Russia, but only on the one condition that the majority of the population is kept out of the fighting and is not ‘disturbed’ from its day-to-day life by the war.”

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has sworn to cut back foreign spending, which would affect Ukraine’s war efforts against Russia
© Shannon Stapleton/REUTERS

In his view, fewer and fewer men in Russia are prepared to put their lives on the line, even for financial benefits such as those offered in army contracts.

North Korea, on the other hands, wants money and technology for sending its soldiers.

“Right now, a private in the Russian military gets $2,000 (€1850) a month plus a signing-on bonus that can be as much as $20,000 (€18,500). If North Korea gets half of that figure for every soldier it provides, then Pyongyang will be very happy,” Lankov said.

Furthermore, North Korea is eyeing Russia’s modern technology.

“Under different circumstances, Russia would never be willing to share technology with such an unstable country, but now it has no other choice,” Lankov added.

However, in his view, this cooperation is not meant to last. Instead, after the end of the war in Ukraine, Lankov expected relations to return to their previous level, as North Korea ceases to be of economic interest to Moscow.

Rayna Breuer contributed to this article, which was translated from German.

Author: David Ehl, Julian Ryall

Politics

2027: CAD Drags INEC to Court, Seeks De-Registration APP From Database

Published

23 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

By Dan Opara

Civic Action for Democracy, CAD, a prominent political pressure group and civic rights organisation in Nigeria, has instituted a major legal action at the Federal High Court, Owerri, Imo State, seeking an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to delist and deregister the Action Peoples Party, APP, from its register of political parties ahead of the 2027 General Elections, particularly the 2027 Imo governorship election.

The suit, filed as FHC/OW/CS/03/2026, was formally announced on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, during a world press conference addressed by CAD’s Executive Director, Mazi Franklin Ngoforo, with some members of CAD, alongside a team of senior legal practitioners.

ThePressman Newspaper and other media organisations were in attendance at the Federal High Court premises on Owerri and Port Harcourt Road.

Ngoforo disclosed that CAD’s legal action seeks twenty-one reliefs against INEC and APP, insisting that the party was legitimately deregistered by INEC on February 6, 2020, alongside seventy-three other (73) political parties.

He recalled that the Supreme Court in March 2022 upheld INEC’s constitutional powers to deregister parties that failed to meet stipulated electoral performance benchmarks.

He criticised INEC for what he described as “the fraudulent retention of a deregistered political party”, noting that the Commission had repeatedly claimed that a non-existent court injunction had prevented it from enforcing APP’s deregistration.

According to Ngoforo, CAD’s investigations revealed no evidence of such a court order, no case file, and no judicial process to support INEC’s assertions.

CAD is urging the court to order the immediate removal of APP from INEC’s database, as well as the issuance of a perpetual injunction restraining the party from participating in any electoral process.

The group is also seeking an order of mandamus compelling INEC to publish a notice confirming the party’s deregistration.

Furthermore, CAD is asking the court to compel INEC to produce the alleged interim injunction or openly admit that it never existed, and to ensure the identification and prosecution of officials involved in what CAD describes as “institutional fraud”.

The organisation has also filed a Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction, seeking to stop APP from participating in any political activity pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Ngoforo warned that permitting APP to participate in the 2027 general elections could trigger a constitutional crisis, particularly if candidates of a deregistered party find their names on the ballot.

He maintained that APP’s participation in the 2024 local government elections in Rivers and Jigawa states was “illegal and void”.

The Executive Director of CAD, called on the new INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, to restore credibility to the Commission and address what CAD terms “the fraudulent manipulation inherited from past INEC administrations”.

Ngoforo appealed to the judiciary, civil society organisations, the media, and the international community to closely monitor the matter, stressing that the integrity of the 2027 electoral process depends on ensuring that deregistered political parties like APP are not allowed to participate.

He emphasised that CAD’s action is a constitutional intervention aimed at safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy, not a politically motivated effort.

“This is a constitutional fight, not a partisan one. We are unrepentantly committed to ending the fraudulent retention of APP in INEC’s register. Nigeria’s democracy must never be compromised,” he stated.

The suit is expected to be assigned to a judge in the coming days, after which hearing dates will be communicated.

Politics

GOV. UZODIMMA LIFTS BAN ON CONDUCT OF TOWN UNION ELECTIONS ACROSS IMO COMMUNITIES. NULLIFIES ALL TOWN UNION BODIES OPERATING UNDER APPOINTMENT STATUS, INSTRUCTS FOR IMMEDIATE REPLACEMENT OF EXECUTIVES WITH ELAPSED TENURES….

Published

23 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

By Prince Uwalaka Chimaroke
17- JAN- 2026

Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, has approved the immediate resumption of Town Union Government elections in all autonomous communities across the state, effectively bringing to an end the embargo that had stalled the process for some time.

The policy shift signals a renewed commitment to strengthening grassroots democracy and repositioning community administration in line with constitutional and statutory provisions governing Town Unions in Imo State.

Under the directive of the Imo Shared Prosperity Administration, popularly known as the 3R’s Agenda, the Governor has instructed the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, headed by Honourable Commissioner Mrs. Rubby Emele, to roll out comprehensive arrangements for the conduct of the elections without delay.

The Governor made this known during a high-level engagement with traditional rulers at the Imo Council of Traditional Rulers’ Palace (Obi Ndi-Eze Imo) on Mbari Street, Ikenegbu, Owerri, on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The announcement was witnessed and confirmed by correspondents who were present at the meeting.

Governor Uzodimma explained that although the activities of Town Union Governments had earlier been placed under restriction, the prevailing need to revive community development structures, promote accountability, and ensure lawful leadership transitions necessitated the lifting of the ban.

He directed that the forthcoming elections must replace all interim or appointed Town Union executives, as well as officials whose tenures have elapsed, stressing that leadership at the community level must emerge strictly through democratic means.

The Governor further emphasized that all autonomous communities are required to conduct their elections in full compliance with their respective Town Union Constitutions and the Imo State Town Union Law, warning against shortcuts or violations of due process.

To ensure credibility and orderliness, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs is to work closely with the Ministry of Rural Development and Economic Empowerment, alongside the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Imo State Chapter, in supervising the exercise.

Governor Uzodimma also frowned at the practice where some Local Government Chairmen reportedly appointed President-Generals for Town Unions, describing such actions as unconstitutional and unacceptable. He noted that concerns raised by traditional rulers at the meeting reinforced the need to restore proper democratic procedures at the community level.

Consequently, the Governor declared all Town Union leadership structures that emerged through appointments or elections conducted during the period of embargo as invalid, nullifying their legitimacy.

With the embargo lifted, communities across Imo State are now expected to commence preparations for transparent, credible, and constitutionally guided Town Union elections that will usher in authentic leadership and deepen participatory governance at the grassroots.

Politics

APC Says It Will Take a Position on Fubara Impeachment Crisis at the Appropriate Time

Published

24 hours ago

January 20, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

By Our Correspondent

The All Progressives Congress (APC has said it will announce its official position on the ongoing impeachment crisis involving Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, when the time is right.

The party, through its spokesperson, stated that while it is closely monitoring political developments in Rivers State, it believes it is premature to take a definitive stance on the matter at this stage. According to the APC, the situation remains fluid and requires careful assessment before any public position is adopted.

The spokesperson emphasized that the party is committed to due process, constitutional order, and democratic principles, noting that impeachment is a serious legislative action that must be handled strictly within the confines of the law. The APC stressed that it would not be drawn into speculation or political sentiments surrounding the crisis.

He further explained that the party is consulting relevant stakeholders and reviewing events as they unfold to ensure that any eventual position reflects fairness, national interest, and respect for democratic institutions.

The APC also cautioned against actions that could heighten political tension or destabilize governance in the state.
The impeachment saga has continued to generate intense political debate, with opinions sharply divided across party lines and among political observers. As the situation evolves, many Nigerians are watching closely to see how major political parties, including the APC, will respond.

The APC reassured the public that it will speak clearly and responsibly on the matter when all necessary conditions have been considered and when its intervention would be most constructive.