North Korea Confirms Deployment of Soldiers to Support Russia in Ukraine War

North Korea has officially confirmed for the first time that it sent troops to Russia to support Moscow’s war effort against Ukraine. The North Korean forces reportedly contributed to reclaiming Russian territory in the Kursk region, which had been under Ukrainian military control.

In a statement released through North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday, the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers’ Party announced that leader Kim Jong Un had dispatched troops to fight alongside Russian forces. This deployment was described as part of a mutual defence treaty signed between Moscow and Pyongyang. KCNA quoted Kim as stating that the soldiers had been sent to “annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area in cooperation with the Russian armed forces.”

Kim further praised the North Korean soldiers, calling them “heroes and representatives of the honour of the motherland.” KCNA emphasized that North Korea considers it "an honour" to maintain an alliance with a powerful state like the Russian Federation.

The strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea was formalized in June last year when Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a treaty pledging military support for each other in the event of war. According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, Kim also announced plans to construct a monument in Pyongyang to honor the North Korean troops who fought against Ukraine. The monument will symbolize gratitude and remembrance, with “flowers praying for immortality” to be laid before the tombstones of fallen soldiers. Yonhap noted that North Korea had previously remained silent about the thousands of soldiers it had sent to Russia in October.

Earlier this year, Ukrainian officials reported that around 14,000 North Korean soldiers had been deployed against Ukraine’s forces. Among them, approximately 3,000 reinforcements were dispatched to replace troops lost during early battles. Initially, the North Korean troops suffered heavy casualties, struggling due to a lack of armored vehicles and unfamiliarity with modern drone warfare. However, reports indicate they adapted swiftly and later played a significant role in helping Russia reclaim control of the Kursk region.

Estimates of North Korean casualties have varied significantly. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated in January that approximately 300 North Korean soldiers had been killed and another 2,700 injured. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy provided a higher figure, estimating around 4,000 North Korean troops killed or wounded. Meanwhile, U.S. assessments placed the number of casualties at about 1,200.

North Korea’s confirmation came shortly after Russia’s Chief of Staff, Valery Gerasimov, praised the "heroism" of the North Korean forces, crediting them with providing substantial assistance in defeating Ukrainian troops. Gerasimov reported to President Putin that Russian forces had successfully retaken Kursk from Ukrainian control. However, Ukraine’s General Staff quickly countered these claims, asserting that defensive operations in certain parts of Kursk were still ongoing.

In response to these developments, the U.S. State Department issued a statement on Sunday, condemning North Korea and other "third countries" for perpetuating Russia’s war against Ukraine. The statement stressed that such support must end, along with Moscow’s backing of Pyongyang.