North Korean troops are reportedly converging in the Kursk region of Russia, an area currently under Ukrainian control.
According to foreign media and diplomatic security sources, North Korean forces have been steadily moving into the Kursk area since October 23, and the New York Times cited a senior Ukrainian official on October 25, confirming that 5,000 North Korean soldiers are expected to assemble and participate in the operation to reclaim Kursk, with significant casualties anticipated.
These North Korean soldiers are believed to be elite units. Ukrainian authorities suspect they were transported from Vladivostok via IL-76 transport planes to military airfields in western Russia, preparing to enter the Kursk combat zone. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the deployment, calling it a “clear escalation by Russia,” and noted that North Korean troops are expected to join the battlefield early next week.
The Ukrainian military has reportedly positioned around 50,000 troops to counter the Russian and North Korean offensive in Kursk. Ukrainian troops have been engaged with Russian forces since August 6, when parts of southwestern Kursk came under Ukrainian control.
Experts predict numerous casualties as North Korean troops enter the Kursk front. Jo Hyun Gi, Secretary General of the Korea Defense Industry Association and a defense expert, suggested during a recent interview that while North Korea may have dispatched elite forces, most of these troops are likely young and inexperienced, risking high losses in the intense, attrition-based fighting. He explained, “Even if North Korea has dispatched their most elite combat units, they are likely sending inexperienced young soldiers, leading to ongoing casualties. While North Korea may have sent special forces, their main units probably have not been deployed. The troops sent are likely to serve primarily as cannon fodder.”
Jo further added that North Korea has experience deploying troops abroad and may include officers with such backgrounds, though he doubts their role will extend beyond replacing Russian casualties. “North Korean troop casualties will be unavoidable, resulting in ongoing fatalities once combat intensifies,” he stated.
Most Commented