Russian authorities acknowledge the presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine and assert that they have reclaimed control over the Kursk region.
Spotlighting North Korea's Direct Role in Russia's War with Ukraine
For the first time, it has been publicly acknowledged that North Korean troops have been fighting alongside the Russian forces in their battle against Ukraine, in the contested Kursk region. This revelation came in a report submitted by Valery Gerasimov, the Russian chief of general staff, to President Vladimir Putin on April 27, 2025.
In the report, Gerasimov expressed gratitude for the "significant assistance" provided by North Korean soldiers as part of a "comprehensive, strategic partnership" between the two nations. This collaboration reportedly contributed to the Russian army's success in driving Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region.
The exact number of North Korean soldiers involved remains uncertain, with various sources providing differing estimates. While U.S. assessments suggest around 10,000 North Korean troops deployed to the Kursk region, Ukrainian officials have estimated a total of 14,000, factoring in reinforcements.
This military intervention represents a significant escalation in North Korea's support for Russia, aligning with the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed between the two countries in 2024. This treaty includes mutual military support clauses, which has now come into play in the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine has yet to respond to Putin's claim, but for Kyiv, losing control of the western Russian region would be a significant blow, given its strategic importance for any future peace talks. The revelation of North Korean troops' involvement in the conflict also underscores the deepening ties between Russia and North Korea, with Pyongyang providing support to Moscow in the form of artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and potentially, military technology, in exchange for suspected food supplies.
This collaboration marks a unique level of third-party involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as Ukraine's ongoing resistance in border regions has previously attracted foreign fighters. However, the state-sanctioned deployment of North Korean soldiers constitutes an unprecedented level of intervention.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has not yet publicly agreed to the confirmed reports of North Korean credit (assistance) in Russia's war conflicts, specifically in the Kursk region.
- The revelation of North Korean soldiers' active role in the war-and-conflicts zone between Russia and Ukraine has deepened the political news concerning the regional tensions.
- The treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership signed between Russia and Korea in 2024, which includes mutual military support, has led to the ceasefire agreement being disrupted as North Korean soldiers have been confirmed to be fighting alongside Russian forces.
- The significant escalation of North Korea's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war, through the deployment of troops, marks a shift in Korean politics, potentially redefining the general news narrative around war-and-conflicts in the region.
