North Korean troops have joined Vladimir Putin’s war for the first time and have come under fire in the Kursk region, according to a Kyiv official. Estimates suggest that there are between 8,000 and 12,000 North Korean troops in the region, although their effectiveness is uncertain. It is believed that Putin aims to pressure Washington with the presence of these troops, but Kyiv continues to strike Russian troops in Ukraine and the Kursk region, suggesting that the elimination of North Korean forces may not result in unusual escalation.
According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), North Korean troops began their journey to the battlefield in Russia as early as March 18. By early August, a North Korean official had visited a missile launch site near the Russia-Ukraine front, indicating the involvement of North Korean military officers. Special forces from North Korea were also detected being sent to Russia via a Russian Navy transport ship, confirming their participation in the war. Last month, White House national security spokesman John Kirby confirmed the troop dispatch from North Korea to eastern Russia, with around 1,500 North Korean special forces transferred to Vladivostok.
Large Russian Air Force planes have also been flying between Vladivostok and Pyongyang as part of the troop movement. North Korean soldiers have been dispersed for training in various far eastern Russian cities. The Kyodo News Agency reported that 2,000 North Korean troops were being transported to western Russia after training, marking the first confirmed movement of soldiers. NATO has also confirmed the presence of North Korean troops on the battlefield. However, experts believe that the North Korean troop presence may not immediately impact Russia’s fighting power, as the main threat to Ukraine remains Russian artillery, fueled by ammunition provided by Pyongyang.
Geopolitical analyst and Ukrainian military veteran Viktor Kovalenko believes that the presence of North Korean troops in Russia will not significantly alter the situation in Ukraine. Despite the potential impact of these troops, current fighting in Ukraine is mainly attributed to Russian artillery. The deployment of North Korean troops alongside Russian forces is part of a larger strategy to pressure Ukraine and potentially influence Washington’s response to the conflict. Kyiv’s announcement regarding North Korean troops coming under fire in the Kursk region marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict.
