Recent intelligence from South Korea indicates that North Korea has dispatched more troops to Russia, re-deploying existing forces to the frontline in the Kursk region. This comes amid heavy losses for North Korean forces since their initial support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine began.
North Korea Reinforces Troop Presence in Russia Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
North Korea Reinforces Troop Presence in Russia Amid Ongoing Ukraine Conflict
South Korea's intelligence reports a significant increase in North Korean military personnel in support of Russia's operations in Ukraine.
North Korea has reportedly intensified its military involvement in Russia, dispatching additional soldiers to support Moscow's ongoing efforts against Ukraine, according to South Korea's intelligence agency. Though the precise number of new troops deployed remains unconfirmed, South Korean military officials speculate that at least 1,000 additional personnel have arrived in Russia. Neither the Russian nor North Korean governments have acknowledged these troop movements.
Since their initial deployment in late 2022, North Korean forces have allegedly suffered significant casualties, with Western sources estimating that around 1,000 of the 11,000 soldiers initially sent have lost their lives in the conflict. The South Korean intelligence agency noted that existing North Korean troops in Russia were re-deployed to the front lines in Kursk at the beginning of February following a month-long period of inactivity. Ukrainian special forces mentioned in January that they had not encountered North Korean units for some weeks, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed their recent return to active duty.
Previous reports from South Korean intelligence hinted that North Korean soldiers may be ill-prepared for the modern combat environment, particularly vulnerable to Ukrainian drone strikes. However, defectors and military analysts caution against underestimating these troops.
Since the initiation of President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, both sides have faced heavy losses. Ukraine made significant gains in the Kursk region last year, surprising Russian border guards. Despite being pushed back somewhat by Russian efforts, aided by the arrival of North Korean forces, Ukraine still controls substantial territory within Russian borders and continues to inflict severe casualties on Russian troops.
Russia has refrained from releasing any official data regarding military casualties since September 2022, when it reported approximately 5,937 fatalities. Conversely, President Zelensky has estimated Ukraine's military death toll at 45,100, though many analysts in Ukraine and the West believe that true losses could be considerably higher.
The deployment of North Korean soldiers has been linked to the growing military collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang, solidified by a recent security and defense agreement between Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
