North Korea has officially confirmed that its soldiers are fighting alongside Russian forces in the ongoing war against Ukraine. According to state news agency KCNA, North Korean troops helped Russian units completely liberate the contested Kursk region near Ukraine’s border.
This announcement followed praise from Russia’s Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov, who applauded the heroism shown by North Korean forces. Western officials previously stated that at least 1,000 North Korean soldiers died within three months of fighting in Ukraine.
Gerasimov also claimed Russia regained full control over the western Kursk region, although Ukraine strongly disputed these battlefield claims. Following the revelation, US officials stated that North Korea must now share responsibility for fueling and prolonging the devastating conflict.
For months, Western and Southern Korean intelligence agencies reported that thousands of North Korean troops deployed to Russia’s Kursk region. KCNA emphasized that Pyongyang’s decision stemmed from a mutual defence treaty signed by North Korea and Russia last year.
According to the agency, Kim Jon Un described these troops as heroes and symbols of North Korea’s unwavering national honour. Officials in Pyongyang stressed that the alliance demonstrated blood-forged friendship.
They also promised deeper cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang in the future. KCNA did not clarify what would happen to the deployed troops after their mission in Kursk officially concluded or ended.
Initial reports about North Korean soldiers assisting Russia surfaced in October after renewed diplomatic efforts between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. Military analysts suggested that the deployed soldiers belong to the elite Storm Corps unit but remain poorly equipped for modern warfare.
Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British Army tank commander, said these North Korean troops struggle under Russian officers they barely understand. Despite their challenges, Ukraine’s military warned that North Korean troops fighting for Russia present serious problems along heavily contested front lines.
Ukraine’s General Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that the fighters are highly motivated and utilize old Soviet-style tactics to overwhelm defenses. He added that their sheer numbers, around 11,000 to 12,000 troops, are making offensive operations difficult. The role of North Korean troops fighting for Russia is expected to shape the next phase of the ongoing conflict.
