Claims have emerged that North Korean troops deployed to Russia are already stationed in combat zones, such as western Russia Kursk. Despite North Korea’s denials regarding these deployment claims, Ukraine is actively seeking international support, even disclosing a list of supplies provided to North Korean soldiers.
On Thursday, RBC Ukraine, citing the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, reported that approximately 12,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia, with some already positioned on the front lines in Kursk. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, stated that the first group of North Korean soldiers, having undergone training at Russian military facilities in the east, had arrived in the combat zone. On Wednesday, these troops were recorded as being stationed in the Kursk region. Among the reported 12,000 personnel deployed are 500 officers and three generals.
Training for the North Korean forces is reportedly taking place at five separate training grounds in eastern Russia. Ukrainian officials believe that Russia plans to train these troops for several weeks to prepare them for potential involvement in the ongoing conflict against Ukraine. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus Bek Yevkurov has been tasked with overseeing the training and adaptation of the North Korean forces. Reports have also surfaced detailing the supplies provided to the North Korean soldiers, including ammunition, bedding, winter uniforms, military boots, 50 meters (164 feet) of toilet paper per month, and 300 grams (10.6 ounces) of soap.
Although North Korea has continued to deny the deployment of its troops to Russia, corroborating reports have emerged from South Korea, Ukraine, the United States, and now Japan. Earlier, Kyodo News reported, citing Ukrainian military sources, that approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers were spotted moving to western Russia near the Ukrainian border after completing their training. This marks the first detection of North Korean troop movements. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin remarked during a press conference following the BRICS summit, “But what we do within the framework of this article is our business.” This statement is interpreted as Russia’s implicit acknowledgment of the deployment of North Korean troops.
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