South Korean intelligence has reported that North Korea may deploy additional troops to Russia as early as July or August 2025 to support its war effort against Ukraine.

North Korea Deployment

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) believes North Korea is preparing to send up to 30,000 more personnel, including military engineers and construction workers, to assist in rebuilding efforts in Russia’s Kursk region.

Ukrainian intelligence suggests the number could be far higher, estimating 25,000 to 30,000 troops may be deployed to bolster Russian forces, tripling the initial deployment of 11,000 troops in 2024.

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The troops are expected to assist with demining and reconstruction in the Kursk region, which has seen heavy fighting and infrastructure damage.

In late 2024, North Korea secretly sent 11,000 troops to Russia, many of whom were later confirmed to be fighting in Kursk Oblast and other occupied Ukrainian territories.

Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence confirm that North Korean soldiers are actively engaged in combat, wearing Russian uniforms and operating under Russian command.

Reports indicate that 4,700 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded so far. Of those, 600 are confirmed dead, with their remains cremated in Russia and repatriated to North Korea.

North Korea is using this war as a training ground to gain experience in modern combat, drone warfare, and electronic warfare.

Pyongyang aims to refine its offensive doctrine and test its weapons systems against a Western-equipped adversary.

Arms-for-Tech Exchange

The military cooperation between North Korea and Russia has reached unprecedented levels, formalized through a landmark treaty and reinforced by battlefield collaboration and technology transfers.

Signed on June 18, 2024, in Pyongyang by Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, the deal came into force on December 4, 2024.

The key provisions are:

• Article 4: If either country is attacked, the other must provide military and other assistance “with all means in its possession” without delay, aligning with Article 51 of the UN Charter 
• Article 8: Establishes mechanisms to strengthen joint defence capabilities.
• Article 10: Promotes cooperation in science, technology, and peaceful nuclear energy

North Korea supplies millions of artillery shells, short-range rockets, and troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Russia returns the support by providing advanced military technologies.

Russian assistance has already helped North Korea launch its first spy satellite, with more launches expected.

This alliance marks a departure from Russia’s past role in non-proliferation and signals a new axis of cooperation between two nuclear-armed states.

Ukraine Response

Ukraine has responded to North Korea’s military involvement in the war with a mix of strategic, tactical, and diplomatic actions.

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Ukraine’s FPV (first-person-view) drones have been particularly effective against North Korean units, exploiting their rigid formations and lack of battlefield adaptability.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has called North Korea’s involvement a dangerous escalation and urged the international community to respond strongly. 

“I am grateful to those leaders and representatives of states who do not close their eyes and speak frankly about this cooperation for the sake of a larger war,” he said. “We expect a normal, honest, strong reaction from our partners on this.”

General Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, confirmed that North Korea is likely to deploy artillery and rocket troops to Kursk, and may soon introduce loitering munitions similar to Iranian Shahed drones.

Ukrainian troops noted that North Korean soldiers are more disciplined than many Russian units, but also more predictable, making them vulnerable to modern warfare tactics.

North Korean units suffer from communication breakdowns and slow decision-making, which Ukraine exploits during rapid engagements.

Zelensky has appealed to NATO and UN members to condemn North Korea’s involvement and increase support for Ukraine, warning that silence would embolden authoritarian regimes.

Ukraine’s envoy to the UN has warned that North Korea’s participation poses a threat to both Europe and the Korean Peninsula, urging renewed sanctions and monitoring.

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