North Korean troops in Ukraine: How powerful is Pyongyang’s army?

Published

9 months ago

October 17, 2024

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that the fact North Korea has its boots on the ground in temporarily occupied parts of Ukraine is “the first step to a World War”, sparking a fresh wave of worry and concerns surrounding the country’s military capacity.

“This is no longer just about transferring weapons. It is actually about sending people from North Korea to the occupying military forces,” he said.

Zelenskyy’s announcement comes days after Ukrainian outlet The Kyiv Independent reported that North Korea has sent 10,000 soldiers to Russia in a bid to boost its offensive on Ukraine.

While the Kremlin dismissed these reports, the prospect of North Korean troops fighting on Moscow’s side in the heart of Europe begs the question: how strong is Pyongyang’s army and can it afford to send its forces to Ukraine?

The world’s fourth-largest army

North Korea possesses the world’s fourth-largest military, with nearly 1.3 million active personnel representing approximately 5% of the total population. An additional 600,000 are believed to serve as reserve soldiers.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has made defence spending a priority, with Pyongyang stating in January that 15.9% of total government expenditure for this year would go to defence.

Although the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) did not provide a specific figure, this estimate is similar to the ones announced in recent years.

Meanwhile, independent estimates say that Pyongyang likely spent around 36.3% of its GDP on its military in 2023, or the second in the world in this category.

While the North Korean army has also been reported to use outdated technology and fighting equipment, its leadership makes up for the difference in tech by mobilising its troops in massive numbers, similar to Moscow.

This observation was echoed by Pentagon’s press secretary, Major Patrick Ryder, who said in June that Russia would use Pyongyang’s soldiers as cannon fodder, much like its own troops.

However, for many, North Korea’s advances in the fields of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons are far more concerning.

How powerful are Pyongyang’s nukes?

Ever since he took power in 2011, Kim Jong-un has been accelerating the country’s nuclear program. Over the last 13 years, Kim has directed four nuclear tests: one in 2013, two in 2016, and another in 2017.

He also ordered 160 missile tests, a figure which far exceeds the number of trials conducted under his father, Kim Yong-il, and grandfather, North Korea’s founder, Kim Il-sung. These missiles are believed to be able to reach the mainland in the US.

With each test, North Korea’s nuclear explosions have grown in power. The last nuclear test carried out to date, in September 2017, was far significantly larger than expected, which gives some weight to Pyongyang’s claims that it has the materials to create a hydrogen bomb.

However, North Korea has not conducted any similar tests since. In 2018, it claimed to have shut down its main nuclear material production site, the Yongbyon reactor complex.

This followed the country’s summit with the United States, with former US President Donald Trump travelling to Singapore to meet with Kim.

Yet, these claims were in turn disputed by a report issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) in 2021, asserting that North Korea had once again started producing fissile material at Yongbyon.

By mid-2022, satellite imagery showed that construction was progressing, with the IAEA expressing concern that North Korea was preparing for another nuclear test.

In September, North Korea released pictureswhich offered a rare glimpse into the country’s nuclear weapons programme. They offered an unprecedented insight into the centrifuges used by the nation to make bomb-grade uranium.

The photos — thought to have been Kim’s power move — triggered a fresh wave of concern among the West and the international community.

“As these pictures show, and beyond that, they have a vast nuclear program, which is perhaps the only one in the world on which there is no visibility in terms of the observance of the basic international nuclear safety standards,” Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said in an interview with AP.

Kim Jong Un walks around what it says is a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on the launcher at an undisclosed location in North Korea, 24 March 2022 朝鮮通信社/AP

What about South Korea?

Tensions between North Korea and South Korea have also escalated in the last weeks following the release of the pictures.

Despite this, the two countries have long-term tense and fiery relations. For instance, in a dramatic move, North Korean media announced that the country would “shut down all contact” with South Korea in 2019.

This came as the nation called for Seoul to prevent activists from sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

In early October, Kim Jong-un renewed hostilities, threatening to use nuclear weapons to destroy South Korea should an attack take place, state media reported.

Meanwhile, Seoul has been escalating its weapons production in preparation for a potential attack.

Last year, the country’s Defence Ministry announced plans to spend €223.78 billion in the next five years to bolster its defence capabilities.

Troops hit Boko Haram hideouts in Borno, kill fighters

Published

2 days ago

July 10, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Troops under the 7 Division, Sector 1 of Operation Hadin Kai have dealt another blow to Boko Haram, storming their strongholds in Tangalanga and Bula Marwa, both in Borno State.

According to details obtained by Zagazola Makama from military sources familiar with the mission, the operation was executed on Sunday, July 7, following “credible intelligence reports indicating the presence and activities of terrorist elements in the general area.”

The troops, acting swiftly on the information, first moved into Tangalanga where they came under attack but quickly responded, killing two insurgents during the engagement. The team didn’t stop there.

“After receiving intelligence on the massing up of terrorists within the location,” the sources said, “the team proceeded towards Bula Marwa.”

As soldiers approached the second target, Bula Marwa, the insurgents reportedly fled into the surrounding terrain in a bid to escape. However, their retreat was not entirely successful.

“One fleeing insurgent was neutralized during pursuit, while several special structures within the camp were destroyed,” a source confirmed.

Despite the tense situation and armed confrontation, the troops are said to have completed the mission without recording any casualties on their side — a significant morale boost for the ongoing counterinsurgency efforts in the region.

Recovered from the operation were key items, including aix AK-47 magazines, 90 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, and a Boko Haram flag.

BREAKING NEWS: Imo Govt Demolishes Notorious Criminal Hideout at Nekede No. 1 by Imo ADP

Published

3 days ago

July 8, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

By Ambrose Nwaogwugwu, July 07, 2025.

In a bold and decisive move, the Imo State Government has continued its onslaught against criminality by demolishing a notorious hideout located at Nekede Number One, near the Imo ADP. The structure, long suspected to be a base for armed robbery and heinous organ harvesting operations, was brought down earlier today under the supervision of government security operatives and task force agents.

According to sources within the Governor’s Monitoring and Compliance Unit, the location had been under surveillance following multiple intelligence reports linking it to violent crimes, including coordinated robberies, drug trafficking, and suspected ritual killings involving human organs.

“This location was not just a criminal den; it was a grave threat to public safety and human dignity,” said an official involved in the operation. “Our government will not allow any part of the state to become a breeding ground for evil.”

Residents in the area had reportedly lived in fear for months, as the structure harbored criminals and served as a meeting point for underworld elements. Eyewitnesses described scenes of relief as the bulldozers rolled in and leveled the compound.

“I can finally sleep with my two eyes closed,” said one local resident who asked not to be named. “We’ve known for long that something very dark was happening there. We thank the state government for taking this action.”

Preliminary investigations are ongoing, and several suspects were said to have been apprehended during the raid. Authorities have assured the public that a full-scale investigation will follow, and all those involved in the criminal enterprise will be brought to justice.

This demolition is part of the Imo State Government’s renewed campaign to cleanse the state of criminal syndicates and restore law and order across all localities. In recent weeks, similar crackdowns have been executed in other parts of the state, drawing commendation from security stakeholders and the general public.

The state government has reaffirmed its commitment to making Imo safe for residents, investors, and visitors alike.

More updates to follow.

Court Jails Nine Chinese for Cyber-terrorism, Internet Fraud

Published

4 days ago

July 7, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Justice D. E.Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, July 7, 2025, convicted and sentenced nine Chinese to one year imprisonment each for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The convicts are Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (a.k.a Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li de Wen, Fun Min, Tan Ming.

They are among the syndicate of 792 alleged cryptocurrency investment and romance fraud suspects arrested on December 19, 2024, in Lagos during a sting operation tagged ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ conducted by EFCC operatives.

They were subsequently arraigned on a separate one -count charge of cyber- terrorism and internet fraud in February 2025 by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The charge reads: “ That you, Qin Xiao Yong, Luo Mao Yang, Liu Ni Ni, Liu Gang, Sun Qi (a.k.a Wan Jin Ping), Zhang Juan, Li de Wen, Fun Min, Tan Ming, sometime in December, 2024 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired amongst yourselves to commit an offence to wit: cause to be accessed computer system used for the purpose of destabilising and destroying the economy and social structure of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 27 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 18(1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc) Act 2015.”

They initially pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against them.

However, at Monday’s sitting, they changed their “not guilty plea” to “guilty.”

In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, R.A. Abdulrasheed, prayed the court to convict them accordingly.

Consequently, Justice Osiagor convicted and sentenced each of the defendants to one year imprisonment starting from the date of arrest on December 10, 2025, with a fine in the sum of N1,000,000 (One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00).

The judge also directed the Comptroller General of Immigration to ensure that the convicts are repatriated to their country of origin within seven days.

The judge further ordered that the mobile phones, computers, laptop computers and routers seized from them at the time of arrest be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.