North Korea Confirms Troop Deployment to Russia
Alex Blackburn | 2 May 2025
Summary
North Korea confirmed up to 14,000 troops were sent to aid Russia in Ukraine, with leaders claiming success in Kursk, which Ukraine denies.
The move deepens Russia–North Korea ties, raising fears of arms and tech transfers.
Russia’s normalisation of military ties with Pyongyang is likely to encourage other authoritarian states to pursue similar alliances, diminishing the stigma of engaging with North Korea.
North Korea officially confirmed that it deployed troops to assist Russian forces in the ongoing war against Ukraine for the first time. According to reports by North Korean state media KCNA, leader Kim Jong Un ordered the deployment under a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2024. The North Korean military claimed its forces played a key role in the "complete liberation" of Russia's Kursk border region, a claim that Ukraine denies.
Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and President Putin praised the "heroism" of the North Korean troops, acknowledging their sacrifices alongside Russian forces. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy countered Moscow's narrative, stating that Ukrainian soldiers are still active in Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions.
Ukraine's top commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, also warned that North Korean soldiers posed a significant threat on the front lines. Although inexperienced in modern warfare tactics, such as drone operations and armoured assaults, these troops adapted rapidly, relying heavily on Soviet-style offensive strategies and overwhelming numbers.
The public acknowledgement of North Korea's military involvement marks a significant escalation in the Ukraine conflict's international dimension. Despite mounting evidence and intelligence reports from Western officials, Moscow and Pyongyang had previously avoided confirming the deployment. The official acknowledgement underscores the deepening alliance between Russia and North Korea, cemented by shared strategic and political goals. Ukrainian officials estimate that as many as 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded, though the United States (US) estimates place the figure closer to 1,200. Since then, North Korea has deployed approximately 3,000 reinforcements to sustain its operations.
Beyond the battlefield, there are increasing concerns among the US and its allies that North Korea's involvement could lead to a dangerous transfer of advanced military technologies. Reports suggest that in exchange for its support, Pyongyang could receive Russian satellite, missile, and nuclear technologies, potentially accelerating its weapons development programs. North Korea has, in turn, provided Russia with vast quantities of ammunition, artillery shells, KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles, further fueling the war effort.
The formal confirmation of North Korean troops fighting for Russia introduces several worrying future trends. Firstly, it risks prolonging the war in Ukraine by providing Russia with additional manpower at a time when its domestic recruitment has stalled. Secondly, it could enable North Korea to significantly bolster its military and nuclear capabilities through Russian technological assistance, increasing security risks in East Asia. Diplomatically, this emerging Russia–North Korea axis could undermine global sanctions regimes and erode the already fragile non-proliferation frameworks. Moreover, it sets a precedent for authoritarian states to form more overt military partnerships against democratic nations.
The US State Department has condemned North Korea's deployment and called for an end to its involvement. However, with both Pyongyang and Moscow seeing strategic advantages in their cooperation, the Ukraine conflict may increasingly become a testing ground for a broader realignment of global power blocs.
kremlin.ru, CC-BY 3.0
Forecast
Short-term (Now - 3 months)
The Russian-Ukrainian frontlines are unlikely to have significant changes.
There is a realistic possibility that North Korean troop deployment could provide Russia with a modest tactical advantage in manpower-intensive operations, such as those near Kursk.
Medium-term (3-12 months)
Russia’s advantage from additional North Korean troops is likely to be negated by the latter's limited modern warfare training and high casualties, along with Ukraine’s effective use of precision Western weapons, drones, and strong defensive positions.
Long-term (>1 year)
It is highly likely that North Korea’s open involvement in the Russo-Ukrainian conflict would break a 30-year taboo against openly cooperating with the North Korean regime.
Russia’s normalisation of military ties with Pyongyang is likely to encourage other authoritarian states to pursue similar alliances, diminishing the stigma of engaging with North Korea.
This shift may contribute to a broader realignment of global power blocs, where strategic interests take precedence over established norms on non-proliferation, human rights, and sanctions compliance.
