Preliminary data indicates that Russia has begun using a significant number of North Korean soldiers in its assaults. These troops are being integrated into combined units and deployed in operations within the Kursk region. For now, their involvement is limited to this area, but… pic.twitter.com/7vBp4VAJlR
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) December 14, 2024
According to Reuters, the presence of North Korean soldiers was first reported by Kyiv in October, with Ukrainian officials estimating that up to 11,000 troops have now been integrated into Russian forces in the region. Zelenskiy warned that their deployment, currently limited to the Kursk front, could soon expand to other parts of the conflict.
North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine war underscores the deepening partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow. The two nations have grown closer in recent years, with North Korea seeking economic and military benefits from its alignment with Russia.
Andrii Kovalenko, an official with Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, said the North Koreans were being used for risky front-line assaults, suffering casualties in the process. “The Russians are counting on numbers, using Koreans to run under fire and occupy certain areas,” he claimed.
Russia has neither confirmed nor denied the use of North Korean troops.
The contested enclave in the Kursk region, seized by Ukraine during its August incursion, was meant to serve as a bargaining chip in future negotiations. However, maintaining the position has proven costly, with some Western military analysts questioning the move’s strategic value.
Russia has increased its efforts to retake the territory, launching more frequent assaults, glide bomb strikes, and over 200 artillery attacks in the area. Moscow’s forces have also made significant advances in eastern Ukraine, their fastest since 2022, though Kyiv and Western sources report heavy Russian casualties.
Zelenskiy denounced North Korea’s involvement as a grave escalation. “Moscow has dragged another state into this war, and to the fullest extent possible. If this is not escalation, what is?” he said.
The Ukrainian leader is set to meet European leaders in Brussels next week, including representatives from Britain, France, Germany, and NATO, to press for additional support. Kyiv continues to urge the West to bolster Ukraine’s position, warning against hesitations that could embolden Russia.
