KYIV, Ukraine — Officials from both the U.S. and South Korea revealed on Wednesday that there are signs indicating North Korea has sent troops to Russia, which might mark an escalation in the ongoing war in Ukraine that has lasted nearly three years.
If the North Korean troops are indeed intending to engage in combat in Ukraine, it would represent a significant first, as it would mean a third nation has joined the war by sending ground forces. Numerous countries have previously extended military assistance, such as weaponry and training; for instance, Iran has provided Russia with drones, while Western nations have equipped Ukraine with advanced arms, as well as financial and humanitarian support.
The head of South Korea’s intelligence agency informed lawmakers that approximately 3,000 North Korean soldiers are currently being trained to operate various equipment, including drones, in preparation for their deployment against Ukrainian forces. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin corroborated these reports during a press conference in Rome, stating, “We are seeing evidence that there are North Korean troops” present in Russia.
“What exactly they’re doing — that remains to be seen,” Austin added. Neither he nor Cho Tae-yong, the South Korean National Intelligence Service Director, provided insights into how they acquired this information, leaving numerous questions regarding the implications of North Korea’s involvement in the conflict.
What are the specifics regarding the North Koreans?
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate, shared with the online military news outlet “The War Zone” that North Korean forces were reportedly arriving in Russia’s Kursk region by Wednesday to aid Russian units in repelling incursions from Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned in a briefing on Monday that North Korean officers and technical personnel had already been observed within Russian-occupied areas, although he did not disclose the timing of their arrival.
“I believe the initial deployment involved officers to evaluate the situation prior to sending in the troops,” Zelenskyy observed. He has expressed concerns over the possibility of a third country’s participation leading to a global conflict, while Austin noted that it would represent a “very, very serious issue” if North Korea indeed aligned with Russia in the conflict.
What measures is Ukraine taking?
In anticipation of potentially fighting North Korean troops on its own soil, Ukraine is adjusting its preparations.
According to assessments from both Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence, the introduction of around 10,000 North Korean troops could severely disrupt Ukraine’s defensive capabilities and significantly hasten the progress of Russian forces, as highlighted by Glib Voloskyi, an analyst from the Come Back Alive Initiatives Center.
To further address this situation, Ukraine’s “I Want to Live” initiative, which operates a hotline aimed at encouraging Russian soldiers to surrender, released a video in Korean on Wednesday appealing directly to North Korean soldiers.
“We appeal to the troops of the Korean People’s Army sent to aid the Putin regime. You should not sacrifice your lives carelessly on foreign soil. There is no need for you to meet the same fate as countless Russian soldiers who will never return home!”
How is the West responding?
Zelenskyy indicated on Monday that the reactions from the European Union and the U.S. regarding the presence of North Korean troops alongside Russia have been measured and “very restrained.”
Officials from Germany and the U.K. also expressed their concerns, with South Korea suggesting it may support Ukraine with military assistance should North Korea’s involvement be confirmed.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius remarked, “We don’t even know whether we are talking about 1,500 or 12,000 or which kind of soldiers are coming to Russia and to fight where and against,” describing the situation as a form of escalation that highlights the increasing rapidity of international conflicts.
U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey also noted that there are concerns not only about a potential escalation in Europe but also tied to broader security issues in the Indo-Pacific region.
What motivations might Russia have for seeking assistance from North Korea?
Over the past two years, North Korea and Russia have bolstered their military partnership, particularly as both nations face tensions with the West. In June, a defense agreement was established between the two, stipulating mutual military support in the event either nation is attacked.
Analysts suggest that the involvement of North Korean troops indicates that the war is not proceeding as Russia had anticipated.
“I believe that Ukraine is gradually wearing down the Russian military as we speak. You do not request thousands of soldiers from North Korea if your war is going well,” asserted Justin Crump, a former British tank commander and head of the strategic advisory firm Sibylline. “There would be no need for them.”
Since August 2023, North Korea has reportedly supplied Russia with over 13,000 containers filled with artillery, missiles, and other conventional weaponry to help replenish Moscow’s shrinking stockpiles.
According to Ukrainian officials, these munitions are actively being employed against targets within Ukraine.