North Korea has sent nearly 12,000 soldiers to eastern Russia to train, expected to join Russian forces in the fight against Ukraine soon. Most soldiers are heading towards the Kursk region, a Ukraine-controlled area of Russia with particularly intense fighting. Russia has trained the troops in infantry operations and tactics, implying that North Korea “fully intends to use these forces in frontline operations,” according to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Although North Korea has provided Russia with artillery and military equipment, this troop mobilization marks a turning point in Pyongyang’s involvement in the Ukrainian war. If North Korea’s troops participate in the fighting, it will be their first active involvement in a large-scale conflict since the Korean War in 1950.
North Korea and Russia have deepened their relationship since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2023, holding diplomatic visits and becoming major trading partners due to their weapons programs. North Korea’s recent displays of military strength, such as the launch of its newest space satellite, are speculated to be a result of Russian technological insights. In June of 2024, the two countries signed a defense treaty stating one would provide military assistance to the other in the event of a military attack. However, the deployment of troops to Russia signifies the lengths North Korea is willing to go to receive Russian technological and military assistance.
“North Korea is very likely to ask for technology transfers in diverse areas,” South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun said in a meeting last week. The two countries have a history of cooperating on weapons development, such as when the Soviet Union helped North Korea build its first nuclear research facility in 1960. North Korea could specifically ask for help regarding its nuclear and missile programs. North Korea’s military also receives expertise in conventional warfare from its involvement in the Ukrainian war.
“North Korean soldiers will gain practical experience in this war, understanding what land warfare entails, learning the use of artillery, drones, missiles, and so on,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Putin’s use of North Korean troops underscores the desperate state of Russian forces in the war against Ukraine. Over 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured, and Putin is facing domestic backlash for increased conscription efforts. North Korea’s involvement puts more pressure on Ukraine and allows Russia to relieve pressure from its dwindling troops. Pyongyang has one of the largest military forces in the world, surpassing 1.3 million personnel, and further troop deployments could be possible.
North Korea’s involvement demonstrates the strength and scope of Russia’s coalition against the West and carries the risk of drawing in other major countries in Europe, endangering the security of the Indo-Pacific region as a whole.