U.S. Intelligence Agencies Believe North Korea Proposed Troop Deployment to Russia: NYT

News Summary

The New York Times (NYT) reported on Monday that U.S. intelligence agencies believe North Korea's decision to send troops to Russia originated from the Kim regime.

The NYT, referencing U.S. officials, stated that the agencies assessed Pyongyang as the originator of the idea, which Russian President Vladimir Putin swiftly accepted.

The NYT said that U.S. officials do not believe Kim Jong Un has received anything immediate in return, but they said that Kim appears to be hoping Russia will repay the favor in the future by offering diplomatic support, assisting if a crisis breaks out, and providing technology.

Commentary

This information seems to be true, since Russia would not dare to invite North Korea into its war due to a severe backlash from the international community.

In a desperate bid to sustain his crumbling regime, Kim Jong Un took a gamble by sending his troops to Russia as a last resort to prevent its collapse.

As the casualties among North Korean soldiers rise and Kim reportedly continues dispatching more troops to Russia, dissatisfaction and anger towards Kim among his people are likely to grow.

If the news that Kim was the one proposing the idea of deploying his troops to Russia becomes known among his people, including the military, it would significantly influence their perception of their dictator.

We will find out how Kim's gambling turns out in the near future.