North Korean troops to potentially reinforce Russian forces, according to Ukrainian officials, numbering up to 30,000.
In a developing international scenario, North Korea has been actively contributing to Russia's war efforts in Ukraine, with signs pointing towards further deployments in the coming months.
According to recent intelligence and reporting, North Korea initially deployed around 12,000 troops to Russia late last year, with an additional 3,000 troops sent this year, making an estimated total of around 15,000 North Korean soldiers involved so far. These troops have primarily been engaged in combat operations in the Kursk region of Russia, serving as front-line assault units.
The UK Ministry of Defense intelligence has reported heavy casualties among North Korean forces, with more than 6,000 troops, roughly half of their original contingent, having been killed or injured. However, Ukrainian military officials have acknowledged the improving combat skills of North Korean troops, including their adaptation to modern warfare tactics such as drone operations.
Beyond infantry combat roles, North Korea is also sending military engineers and construction brigades, approximately 5,000 personnel, to assist in rebuilding efforts in contested areas like Kursk.
South Korean intelligence suggests that North Korea may send additional troops to Russia as early as July or August 2025 to help with a planned large-scale Russian offensive. The exact number of additional forces and the detailed composition have not been publicly disclosed.
In addition to troop deployments, North Korea continues to supply Russia with artillery ammunition, missiles, and likely technical assistance on missile and satellite technologies, indicating a broader strategic partnership supporting Russia’s war effort.
Reports show intensified cooperation between Russia and North Korea, with North Korean troops working closely with Russian troops in combat training and clearance operations. A video posted by a Russian TV presenter shows a North Korean unit with long-term dugout accommodation outside of Postoyalye Dvory, a settlement 10 kilometers east of the city of Kursk.
North Korean troops are also receiving training with shotguns, used to tackle the Ukrainian drone threat. Satellite imagery shows a Russian personnel carrier arriving at Dunai in May, and activity at Sunan airport in May and June.
The Russian ministry of defense is capable of providing equipment, weapons, and ammunition to the North Korean troops. Sergei Shoigu, a top adviser to Putin, visited Pyongyang on June 17 and announced 1,000 North Korean sappers and 5,000 military construction workers would be sent to Russia.
CNN has obtained North Korean artillery training manuals, translated into Russian, a sign of increasing interoperability between Moscow's and Pyongyang's armed forces. Ukrainian intelligence has supplied a record of 82 strikes by North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles, revealing one was responsible for the deaths of 11 civilians in Pokrovsk in January 2024.
Experts suggest that North Korea sees a long-term benefit in Moscow being in its debt, indicating that North Korea may be making sacrifices in the short term for long-term gains. These anticipated deployments could significantly impact the dynamics of Russia’s planned offensives this summer of 2025.
Europe and the world have witnessed an escalation in war-and-conflicts, with Russia's ongoing efforts in Ukraine, as North Korea's involvement continues to increase. In politics and general news, the deployment of approximately 15,000 North Korean soldiers, both infantry and military engineers, as well as the provision of artillery ammunition, missiles, and technical assistance to Russia, signify a strategic partnership between these two nations.
