N. Korea gaining experience in troop deployment, sustaining military operations through Ukraine war: USFK chief

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WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is gaining experience in deploying troops and sustaining military operations over long distances through its involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Tuesday.

U.S. Gen. Xavier Brunson made the remarks during a dialogue hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, highlighting the military benefits Pyongyang has gained from deploying troops and supplying weapons to support Moscow in the war.

"They've learned how to go from North Korea to find themselves in Russia to move men, weapons and equipment there, as well to build supply lines that would allow them to support the Russian war effort," Brunson said when asked about the experiences Pyongyang gained through its participation in the conflict.

Brunson stressed that North Korea's military has gained experience in strategic movement, mobilization and logistics, allowing it to develop capabilities that extend beyond tactical lessons learned on the battlefield.

The commander warned that North Korea's military is becoming increasingly capable of incorporating battlefield experience into its forces, posing new challenges for South Korea and the United States in maintaining deterrence on the Korean Peninsula.

He also highlighted the military equipment North Korea has received from Russia in return for supporting its war effort, including electronic warfare jammers.

In June 2024, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, under which North Korea has deployed troops and provided conventional weapons to support Russia's war with Ukraine.

On the envisioned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul, Brunson reiterated his support for a conditions-based transition, stressing the importance of meeting agreed military requirements before proceeding with the handover.

"I am in full support of OPCON transfer that is conditions based, full stop," he said.

"At the end of the day, if my president, if my secretary of war tell me, 'Execute right now,' I go, 'Yes, but here are the risks inherent in doing this without having fully met the conditions, securing the critical capabilities that are necessary.'"

On South Korea's defense industry, Brunson praised its advanced manufacturing capabilities and highlighted the potential for greater cooperation in maintaining and repairing U.S. military equipment in the region, rather than sending it back to the U.S. for maintenance.

"We could develop things in Korea that we would then apply across the region," he said, envisioning a regional maintenance, repair and overhaul hub that could leverage South Korean industrial capabilities to support U.S. military operations across the Indo-Pacific.

U.S. Gen. Xavier Brunson (R), commander of U.S. Forces Korea, speaks during a dialogue hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Oct. 14, 2026. (Yonhap)

odissy@yna.co.kr (END)

(LEAD) USFK chief calls for more dispersed military drills across S. Korea, citing Ukraine war lessons

Ex-USFK commander warns time-based OPCON transfer could weaken deterrence against N. Korea

N. Korea gaining experience in troop deployment, sustaining military operations through Ukraine war: USFK chief

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华盛顿，10 月 13 日（韩联社）——驻韩美军司令周二表示，朝鲜通过参与俄罗斯对乌克兰的战争，正在积累部署军队和维持远距离军事行动的经验。

美国将军泽维尔·布伦森在华盛顿战略与国际研究中心主办的一次对话中发表了上述言论，强调了平壤通过部署军队和提供武器支持莫斯科作战所获得的军事利益。

“他们学会了如何从朝鲜前往俄罗斯，向那里运送人员、武器和装备，并建立补给线，从而支持俄罗斯的战争行动，”布伦森在被问及平壤通过参与冲突获得的经验时说道。

布伦森强调，朝鲜军队在战略调动、动员和后勤方面积累了经验，使其能够发展出超越战场上所学到的战术经验的能力。

该指挥官警告说，朝鲜军队越来越有能力将战场经验融入到其部队中，这对韩国和美国在朝鲜半岛维持威慑力构成了新的挑战。

他还重点介绍了朝鲜为支持其战争而从俄罗斯获得的军事装备，包括电子战干扰器。

2024年6月，朝鲜领导人金正恩和俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京签署了全面战略伙伴关系条约，根据该条约，朝鲜向俄罗斯部署军队并提供常规武器，以支持俄罗斯与乌克兰的战争。

关于战时作战控制权（OPCON）从华盛顿移交给首尔的设想，布伦森重申了他对基于条件的过渡的支持，强调在进行移交之前满足商定的军事要求的重要性。

“我完全支持有条件的运营控制权移交，就这么简单。”他说。

“归根结底，如果我的总统，如果我的战争部长告诉我，‘立即执行’，我会说，‘是的，但是这样做存在一些固有的风险，因为还没有完全满足条件，没有确保必要的关键能力。’”

布伦森对韩国的国防工业表示赞赏，称赞其先进的制造能力，并强调了在维护和修理该地区的美国军事装备方面，双方有更大的合作潜力，而不是将装备送回美国进行维护。

“我们可以在韩国开发一些技术，然后将其应用到整个地区，”他说道，设想建立一个区域性的维护、修理和大修中心，利用韩国的工业能力来支持美国在印太地区的军事行动。

2026年10月14日，驻韩美军司令泽维尔·布伦森将军（右）在华盛顿战略与国际研究中心主办的对话会上发表讲话。（韩联社）

odissy@yna.co.kr (完)

（导语）驻韩美军司令呼吁在韩国各地开展更分散的军事演习，并援引乌克兰战争的教训。

前驻韩美军指挥官警告称，基于时间的作战指挥权移交可能会削弱对朝鲜的威慑力。

驻韩美军司令：朝鲜通过乌克兰战争积累了部队部署和持续军事行动的经验