North Korea has officially confirmed for the first time that it sent troops to fight alongside Russia against Ukraine. According to a report by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), North Korean forces assisted Russian troops in the “complete liberation” of the western Russian border region of Kursk, under direct orders from leader Kim Jong Un.
KCNA stated the deployment was in line with a mutual defense treaty signed between Pyongyang and Moscow. Kim hailed the soldiers as, “heroes and representatives of the motherland’s honor who fought for justice.”
This admission follows recent praise from Russia’s Chief of Staff, Valery Gerasimov, who publicly acknowledged the involvement of North Korean troops and applauded their “heroism”—the first such recognition from Moscow.
Reality on the Ground
Western intelligence had previously reported that over 11,000 North Korean soldiers, mostly from the elite “Storm Corps” unit, were deployed to Russia in late 2024. U.S. officials claim at least 1,000 of them have died within a span of three months.
Ukraine’s top commander General Oleksandr Syrskyi warned that these troops present a real threat on the front lines:
“They are numerous—highly motivated and offensive-minded, operating on old Soviet tactics and relying on sheer numbers,” he said in an interview.
Military analysts, however, argue that the North Korean troops are ill-prepared for modern warfare, with reports suggesting they are barely trained and unable to effectively communicate with Russian officers.
Global Reactions
The U.S. condemned Pyongyang’s actions, saying North Korea must now bear responsibility for fueling the conflict. Ukraine, meanwhile, has dismissed Russia’s claim that it has regained full control of Kursk.
KCNA did not clarify what will happen to the deployed North Korean troops now that the Kursk mission is reportedly over—whether they will return home or be redeployed elsewhere.
A Deepening Alliance
The deployment stems from a growing strategic alliance between Russia and North Korea. Last year, Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin signed a formal agreement promising to support one another in the event of external aggression. The current military cooperation, KCNA said, is a sign of their “brotherhood and alliance forged in blood.”
North Korea also pledged continued support for Russia’s military campaigns in the future.
