Kim Jong-un sent 5,000 "construction soldiers" to Russia

South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-gwen told reporters that "about 5,000 North Korean construction soldiers have been gradually transferred to Russia since September and are expected to be mobilized to rebuild infrastructure. " He added that "constant signs of training and selection of personnel in preparation for the transfer of additional troops were detected.

" According to Lee, the intelligence agency has told lawmakers that an estimated 10,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed near the Russian-Ukrainian border. The international sanctions monitoring group, the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Group, said in a report released last month that North Korea plans to send "40,000 workers to Russia, including several delegations of IT professionals. " Under UN sanctions, North Korean workers are prohibited from earning money abroad.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un received support from Moscow by sending thousands of his soldiers to fight on Russia's side against Ukraine. Analysts say North Korea receives financial aid, military technology, as well as food and energy from Russia in exchange for sending troops. This allowed Yin to circumvent tough international sanctions imposed over his nuclear and missile programs.

After the 2019 meeting between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump, US plans to denuclearize North Korea and ease sanctions in return failed. Since then, Pyongyang has repeatedly declared itself a nuclear power. Pyongyang did not respond to Trump's offer to meet with Kim last week, and instead the country's Foreign Minister Choi Song-hee traveled to Moscow, where she and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to strengthen bilateral ties.

Lee said Seoul's intelligence agency believes Kim is open to talks with Washington and "will seek contact when conditions are created. " Although the proposed meeting with Trump did not take place, "many signs indicate" that Pyongyang was "behind the scenes preparing for possible negotiations with the United States," the deputy said.