This issue has been going on for a
very long time in regards to North Korea's involvement in Syria. Those T-54/55 (And other weapons.) tanks have been in Syria since the 70's. It is thought that when the N. Koreans updated the Russian tanks above, they brought the T-55 up to the
T-55MV standard which represents a marked improvement over the T-55. It's been reported before that North Korean advisors and troops have been on the ground before. This first and others even apparently has two units involved in the current fighting there of their elite commando units. That particular ref. is considered very reliable in it's reporting of Asian affairs. Others to include staff of JANE's. You'll just have to judge them for yourselves, but, I say guilty as charged by association.
http://thediplomat.com/2016/03/is-no...ssad-in-syria/
https://www.nknews.org/2014/12/n-kor...ian-civil-war/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.b6917fda31dc
http://38north.org/2013/11/amansourov112513/
http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2016...-tanks/129621/
http://tass.com/world/864368
ISIS/DASH and
rebels are running around with these tanks as well when a major weapons depot was seized from the Syrian army. It is estimated that fighters from around 86 countries are currently involved there. It truly is a mess over there that I hope we stay out of at least with direct combat troops on the ground-I'm talking "
Big Army" involvement here. Syria would make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a "Sunday walk in the park." It is sometimes a topic of discussion with the handful of guys I work with that saw combat in one or the other and a couple in both.
It should be further noted North Korea isn't bound by any weapons trade agreements or treaties.
Regards,
Pat
