North Korea plans to transfer up to 100 pieces of equipment to the Russians, including tanks and armored personnel carriers – Budanov

North Korea plans to transfer 50 to 100 units of its equipment to Russia in the near future, including M2010 (Cheonma-D) main battle tanks and BTR-80 armored personnel carriers. This was stated by the head of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, in an interview with The Japan Times.

According to him, in addition to equipment, North Korea also intends to soon transfer about 6,000 military personnel to the Russian Federation. According to the head of Ukrainian intelligence, all this is being done ostensibly for engineering work.

"Some of them may indeed be involved in demining and building fortifications, but will all of them do that?" noted Kyrylo Budanov.

He emphasized that the aggressor country generously finances the participation of North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine - the Kremlin pays for all military equipment and troops.

"This is tens of billions of dollars’ worth, and for the economy of North Korea, one of the most isolated in the world, this is very serious money," said Kyrylo Budanov.

He added that the partnership between the countries is not limited to the war in Ukraine, but has a broader geopolitical dimension. At the same time, North Korea is gaining unique combat experience.

"There are currently only three countries in the world with the experience of waging a modern war on a very long front line using virtually all available conventional means — these are Ukraine, Russia and North Korea," the head of the GUR added.

In July, Kyrylo Budanov claimed that North Korea was supplying up to 40% of Russia’s ammunition for the war in Ukraine, as the partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow deepened. He said that Kim Jong-un’s regime was also supplying other weapons to Russia, including ballistic missiles and artillery systems.