In a recent development, South Korea’s intelligence network reported on Thursday that North Korea has seemingly increased its military presence in Russia following devastating losses among its troops active in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) of South Korea indicated ongoing efforts to ascertain the exact number of North Korean soldiers now stationed in Russia.
According to the NIS, North Korean forces were reassigned to positions in Russia’s Kursk region during the first week of February, which followed an earlier temporary withdrawal from the locale. On February 7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a speech affirming a fresh Ukrainian military campaign in Kursk, highlighting that North Korean soldiers are combatting alongside Russian troops there.
Notably, North Korea has been a substantial provider of traditional weaponry to Russia and reportedly dispatched between 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers to Russian territories last fall, based on intelligence evaluations from the United States, South Korean, and Ukrainian sources. Even though North Korean forces are renowned for their rigorous training and discipline, analysts point out their vulnerability on the Russian-Ukrainian battlegrounds due to their limited combat history and unfamiliarity with the challenging terrain, making them susceptible to drone and artillery engagements.
As of January, a report from the NIS indicated approximately 300 fatalities and 2,700 injuries among North Korean soldiers in the region. President Zelenskyy previously asserted the casualty count, including killed or injured soldiers, at 4,000, yet U.S. assessments suggest a lower figure nearing 1,200.
Additionally, according to South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo newspaper, which relied on anonymous sources, it was suggested that between 1,000 to 3,000 more North Korean soldiers arrived in Kursk from January through February.
There is growing concern among South Korea, the United States, and their allies regarding the potential reciprocation by Russia to North Korea with advancements in high-tech weapons that could significantly augment its nuclear arsenal. Economic and other support from Russia to North Korea is also anticipated.
Further discussions in Saudi Arabia last week saw Russia and the United States agreeing to initiate steps towards concluding the conflict and reinforcing their diplomatic and economic relationships. Notably absent from these discussions were Ukrainian representatives. This development reflects a significant realignment in U.S. foreign policy stance under President Donald Trump’s administration, marking a distinct move away from the U.S.-led agenda to isolate Russia over its wartime activities in Ukraine.
It is projected that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un might bolster troop deployments in Russia to secure additional Russian aid before hostilities conclude.
