SOFREP Daily: North Korea Sends Troops to Russia, Taiwan Soldiers Leak Secrets to China

Good morning! It’s Saturday, March 29, 2025. Start your weekend informed with the latest in defense and global affairs.

North Korea Sends Troops to Russia

South Korea’s military has reported that North Korea sent an additional 3,000 troops to Russia in early 2024, reinforcing the estimated 11,000 troops already deployed to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Of these, around 4,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to have been killed or injured.

AP: North Korea deployed around 3,000 more troops to Russia between January and February to support Putin’s war effort, according to the South Korean military — AP reports. pic.twitter.com/Gn8B41iDXZ

— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) March 27, 2025

In addition to personnel, North Korea continues to supply Russia with significant quantities of short-range ballistic missiles, artillery, and rocket launchers.

North Korean state media also announced that Kim Jong Un oversaw tests of new AI-powered suicide and reconnaissance drones, with plans to expand production. These developments are part of North Korea’s broader five-year defense strategy and reflect growing military cooperation with Russia.

Experts warn that Pyongyang’s alliance with Moscow is providing North Korean troops valuable modern combat experience and possible access to advanced Russian technology.

Tensions remain high on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea accusing the South of drone incursions—a claim Seoul denies.

Taiwan Soldiers Leak Secrets to China

Four Taiwanese soldiers—including three responsible for presidential office security—have been sentenced to prison for leaking confidential military information to Chinese intelligence agents.

The Taipei district court found them guilty of violating national security laws, handing down sentences ranging from nearly six to seven years.

The crimes, which took place between 2022 and 2024, involved the soldiers photographing sensitive data and receiving payments of up to NT$660,000 (approximately $20,000).

Taiwan Sentences Soldiers for Spying for China

Four Taiwanese soldiers were sentenced to nearly six to seven years in prison for leaking military secrets to China.

Three were part of the Presidential Office’s security team, while one served in the Defense Ministry’s telecom… pic.twitter.com/6eFsxjDJCR

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 27, 2025

This case highlights a growing trend of Chinese espionage in Taiwan, particularly targeting current and former military personnel.

Taiwan’s intelligence agency reported a sharp increase in such prosecutions: 64 people in 2024 alone, up from 10 just two years earlier.

President Lai Ching-te has responded by proposing the reinstatement of military judges to handle espionage and service-related offenses, amid heightened tensions with Beijing, which continues to claim Taiwan as its territory.

Four CCG ships patrolled in restricted waters around Kinmen Island on March 20, 21, and 25. The ships entered the restricted waters around Kinmen Island at four locations and patrolled for about two hours each time.

▪️ The CCG has now conducted such incursions 64 times since it… https://t.co/NR5DyuwJuw pic.twitter.com/WRUuETAvIu

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) March 28, 2025

Israel Strikes Hezbollah Targets Again

Israel launched air strikes in southern Lebanon on Friday following rocket fire from across the border, marking the second such incident since a November 2023 ceasefire with Hezbollah.

Although Hezbollah denied involvement, Israel held both the group and the Lebanese government responsible, with Defense Minister Israel Katz warning that continued attacks on northern Israeli towns would provoke retaliation in Beirut.

The escalation came just hours after Israeli strikes killed six people in southern Lebanon, intensifying tensions in a region already destabilized by Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

⭕️ This morning, projectiles were fired from Lebanon towards northern Israel, posing a direct threat to Israeli civilians. This attack constitutes a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon. The State of Lebanon bears responsibility for upholding the… pic.twitter.com/kyZ59ExBHV

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 28, 2025

Schools in affected Lebanese areas closed due to security concerns, and Lebanese officials reported more casualties from recent Israeli strikes.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel retains positions in southern Lebanon, and UN peacekeepers have expressed concern over the growing risk of renewed conflict.

Meanwhile, Israeli operations in Gaza have resumed, displacing over 140,000 people and killing more than 850 in just a week. The humanitarian crisis continues to worsen amid a blockade on aid, as violence surges across multiple fronts.

Putin Pushes Regime Change in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a “transitional administration” in Ukraine and vowed to “finish off” Ukrainian forces, signaling a hardened stance as US President Donald Trump pushes for a ceasefire.

The shift in US policy under Trump and threats to withdraw support from Kyiv have emboldened Putin, who reiterated his long-standing aim to install a pro-Moscow regime in Ukraine.

Putin’s proposal, floated at an Arctic forum, envisions a UN-backed transitional government that would hold elections and then negotiate peace terms favorable to Russia. He dismissed the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whose term ended in May 2024 but remains in power under martial law.

NEW: Russian President Vladimir Putin is reintensifying efforts to portray the current Ukrainian government as illegitimate and unable to engage in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. ⬇️

▪️ Putin repeatedly accused Zelensky of being the illegitimate leader of Ukraine ahead… pic.twitter.com/HA4nRjqDiM

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) March 28, 2025

While the US seeks a ceasefire, Moscow rejected a joint US-Ukrainian proposal and instead promised a temporary halt to strikes on energy targets—though both sides have accused each other of breaking this pledge.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to launch drone and missile attacks across Ukraine, damaging infrastructure and injuring civilians, while Ukraine retaliates with strikes on Russian energy facilities.

In Europe, Zelenskyy is pressing allies for firmer commitments as discussions about possible European troop deployments stir more questions than answers.

US Tech Giants Fuel Reactor Revival

With advanced nuclear reactors promising cheaper, more flexible, and carbon-free energy, US states are racing to become leaders in the next generation of nuclear power.

These small modular and microreactors are seen as essential to meet the rising electricity demands of tech giants like Amazon and Google and to help meet clean energy goals.

Backed by federal support, over 25 states have passed pro-nuclear legislation, with hundreds of bills in progress.

States like Tennessee, Utah, Texas, and Michigan are offering major subsidies, clearing regulations, and planning new nuclear infrastructure. These reactors, while smaller and faster to build, are still unproven—no modular reactor is yet operational in the US, and some early projects have already been canceled.

As major tech companies like @Google & @Microsoft face growing energy demands from data centres powering AI, they are turning to advanced nuclear technologies such as SMRs to provide clean, reliable power. Learn more about how nuclear is set to advance: https://t.co/hoUpOKqvYI pic.twitter.com/S9J8ZGCFe7

— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) March 27, 2025

The US Department of Energy projects the need for 200 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity by 2050, but significant barriers remain: public skepticism, unresolved nuclear waste storage, supply chain challenges, and growing competition from rapidly improving renewable technologies.

Experts caution that despite enthusiasm, the industry’s future hinges on proving these new reactors can deliver on time, safely, and affordably.

Vance Pushes Arctic Security Agenda

US Vice President JD Vance visited a US military base in Greenland on Friday, after scaling back his original itinerary following backlash from Greenlanders and Danish officials who said the trip had been planned without proper consultation.

The revised one-day visit to the Pituffik Space Base aimed to avoid diplomatic friction amid already strained US-Danish relations stemming from former President Donald Trump’s past suggestion that the US should control Greenland.

Vance, accompanied by his wife and senior officials, emphasized the growing importance of Arctic security and was expected to criticize Denmark’s treatment of Greenlanders. His visit coincided with Greenland’s political parties forming a coalition government to counter external pressures and assert sovereignty.

Greenlanders expressed concern over the US’s increased interest in their territory, rejecting Trump’s renewed calls for American control.

The strategic location of Greenland continues to draw global attention, as both Russia and China seek influence in the Arctic region. Vance’s visit and rhetoric have added to existing tensions, raising questions about US diplomacy and intentions in the region.

Sources: News Agencies