Reports of North Korean troops being deployed to Russia have triggered a wave of speculation online, with videos and photos purportedly showing North Korean soldiers circulating across social media. However, experts suggest that much of this material may be staged, serving as potential psychological warfare by either Russia or Ukraine.
A recent report by Radio Free Asia highlighted a video posted by the pro-Ukrainian Telegram channel “Exilenova+.” The video titled “Captured North Korean Soldier” shows an Asian prisoner who is speaking Ukrainian, with no visible unit insignias or names, leading analysts to doubt the video’s authenticity.
In another instance, the Telegram channel “КНДР” shared two photos purportedly depicting “equipment used by North Korean troops (deployed to Russia) during training.” These photos show Russian and North Korean flags attached to uniforms with “Kim Il Sung” written in Korean. The channel also claimed these troops were issued Russian AK-12 rifles and 5.45mm caliber live ammunition. Yet, experts analyzing the photos cast doubt on their validity. Lee Il Woo, secretary general of the Self-Defense Network, stated, “It looks like a hobby replica, not the real thing. The rifle barrel cover also seems to be aftermarket, not military-issue. Using ‘Kim Il-sung’ like that would get your head chopped off.”
On October 21, a video appeared on X (formerly Twitter) featuring a man claiming to be a North Korean soldier showcasing Russian-issued uniforms and weapons, though its authenticity remains unverified.
Experts suggest these posts are part of a broader psychological warfare effort on social media, with pro-Russian accounts trying to showcase the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, while pro-Ukrainian sources might be attempting to highlight the North Korean troop deployment to garner Western support.
Bruce Klingner, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, told RFA that although the authenticity of social media posts regarding North Korean troop deployments is uncertain, the critical point is that South Korea and the United States have directly confirmed the presence of North Korean troops through multiple intelligence sources.
Reports suggest that thousands of North Korean troops have gathered in the western region of Kursk, a battleground of intense clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces, where Ukrainian troops recently captured territory.
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