North Korean troops could join Putin’s invasion of Ukraine under a new pact with Russia, experts warned – as Kim Jong Un welcomed his despot to Pyongyang

Troops from North Korea could join the invasion of Ukraine under a new pact with Russia, experts warned last night.

The chilling prospect of waves of Kim Jong Un’s military flooding into the stricken country emerged after the dictator signed a defense deal with Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang yesterday.

The Russian president was on a two-day state visit to North Korea, where he was enthusiastically greeted by tens of thousands of well-wishers.

During yesterday’s events, the two despots embraced and shared – according to North Korean state media – “pent-up innermost thoughts” as they were driven to the Kumsusan state guesthouse.

Footage of Putin’s welcome ceremony in Pyongyang showed an honor guard and a crowd of citizens gathering in Kim Il Sung Square near the Taedong River.

Children waved balloons in celebration and the square was decorated with huge portraits of the two leaders and their national flags. City streets were littered with images of Putin, and the facade of the unfinished Ryugyong Hotel was decorated with the message: “Welcome Putin.”

Analysts agree that the arrival of thousands of Kim’s soldiers on the Russian frontline would mark a breakthrough in the conflict, significantly strengthening the Kremlin’s hand. North Korea is also expected to supply Russia with an additional five million rounds of ammunition – after already supplying the same amount in recent months.

Last night, former British Army intelligence expert Philip Ingram said: ‘I think North Korea is likely to contribute troops as part of the new defense pact. This is very worrying. They will add numbers, but how flexible they will be on the battlefield remains to be seen.

‘Russia’s tactics have been so primitive, sacrificing huge numbers of soldiers in the so-called ‘meat grinder’. The Kremlin is probably more interested in the quantity of personnel than the quality.” Meanwhile, former British army commander Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon suggested Kim could trade soldiers for nuclear technology.

He said: ‘It would show how absolutely desperate they both are; Putin for troops and Kim for knowledge.” The North Korean People’s Army is believed to consist of 1.3 million active personnel. The majority are involved in the country’s historic standoff with South Korea.

After suffering around 500,000 casualties in Ukraine, Russia needs to strengthen its frontline forces. The arrival of North Korean troops would further reduce Ukraine’s chances of regaining the eastern provinces of Luhansk and Donetsk, which have been in Russia’s hands since early 2022.

Putin and Kim’s pact includes a joint obligation to intervene on each other’s side in any conflict. This could cause Russia to support North Korea against South Korea. However, because no formal text is made public, its implications remain open to interpretation. Kim told reporters that the country would respond “without hesitation” to threats faced by North Korea or Russia.

Kim added that the new treaty would help create a “new multipolar world” and described his country’s support for Russia as “unconditional.” Putin said the countries would provide “mutual assistance” in case of “aggression” against each other.

Already heavily sanctioned by the West for its attempts to develop nuclear weapons, North Korea has little to lose by supporting the Russian invasion.

Last night Putin flew to Vietnam, a communist-ruled country, where he will meet leaders today.

Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is expected to become NATO’s next secretary general after Hungary withdrew its objection to his appointment.

NATO agreed to a request from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to exclude Hungary from a Ukrainian aid package – an agreement that Rutte has pledged to honor if selected.