North Korea troops in Ukraine: How strong the fourth army of the world

The exact number of the North Korean army remains unknown. According to some analysts, the DPRK also tested nuclear weapons six times and developed ballistic missiles for attacks in the United States. On the eve of October 17, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that North Korea strengthened the Russian army in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, which, he said, became "the first step to the World War. " About it writes Euronews.

Such a statement was made after the media wrote that the DPRK had sent Russia 10,000 soldiers to strengthen the offensive to Ukrainian settlements. North Korea has the fourth largest army in the world - about 1. 3 million soldiers, which is about 5% of the country's total population. And the additional 600,000 soldiers are considered to be in the reserve. According to the decision of the North Korean leader Kim Jong -in, the costs of defense became priority, in January Pyongyang stated that 15.

9% of national expenses for the year would go to defense. The KCNA state news agency did not provide any specific data, but these estimates are close to those reported in recent years. Meanwhile, independent estimates say that in 2023 Pyongyan, probably spent about 36. 3% of his GDP on the armed forces, if this data is correct, then the DPRK should be considered the second largest country spending on the army.

Although, according to reports, the North Korean army also uses outdated technologies and combat equipment, its management compensates for the difference in technology by mobilizing the army in huge quantities, as well as the Russian Federation. In June, Pentagon Pentagon Pentagon Patrick Ryder stated that the Russian Federation would attract Pyongyang soldiers as cannon, as well as their own troops. After coming to power in 2011, Kim Jong -in tried to accelerate the country's nuclear program.

Over the last 13 years, Kim has been in charge of four nuclear tests: in 2013, 2016 and 2017. He also ordered 160 missile tests, which far exceeds the number of such tests conducted by his father Kim Jong Ira and Grandpa, the founder of North Korea Kim Il Sen. These missiles are believed to be able to reach the mainland of the North American continent.

The last nuclear test in September 2017 was much greater than expected that it gave some weight to Pyongyang statements that he had materials for the creation of a hydrogen bomb. But since then North Korea has not conducted such tests. In 2018, the closure of its main object for the production of nuclear materials was stated. It happened after the country's summit from the United States, when Expatamy Donald Trump went to Singapore to meet Kim.

But in the report published in 2021, it was stated that North Korea again began to produce the split material in the Nuclear Research Center in Jonben. By mid -2022, the satellite images showed that the construction was moving, and the IAEA expressed concern that the DPRK was preparing for a new nuclear test. It should be reminded that in its constitution it called South Korea "a hostile state". It was also reported that on October 16, Reuters reported that the DPRK mobilized 1.