In a recent assessment, South Korea reported that North Korea expanded its support to Russia by sending around 3,000 more troops in January and February, as part of its continuing assistance for President Vladimir Putin’s military campaign in Ukraine. The South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff revealed that in addition to personnel, North Korea has been enhancing its shipments of missiles, artillery equipment, and ammunition to Russia. The potential for further escalations in arms supplies depends on the evolving situation in the war. Despite a recent ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine, both parties have accused one another of violations.
The military hardware dispatched by North Korea includes a significant number of short-range ballistic missiles, 170-millimeter self-propelled howitzers, and approximately 220 units of the 240-millimeter multiple rocket launchers. North Korea has now committed roughly 11,000 soldiers to the conflict in Ukraine, marking its significant military involvement in a large-scale conflict since the Korean War of 1950-53. The South Korean military estimates around 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been wounded or killed.
Previous assessments by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service suggested that high casualties among North Korean troops might be due to their struggles with adapting to modern warfare technologies like drones. Additionally, the often crude tactics used by Russian commanders, who deploy North Korean soldiers into assaults without adequate support, exacerbate these risks, as highlighted by the agency in January. Despite these challenges, Ukrainian military intelligence acknowledges that North Korean forces provide essential assistance, contributing to Russia’s strategy by bolstering the numbers in battles such as the one at Kursk.
The report from South Korea’s military follows expressions of unwavering support for Russia’s endeavors by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who recently met with Russian security official Sergei Shoigu in Pyongyang. North Korean state media reports confirmed Kim and Shoigu’s pledge to honor a mutual defense treaty established last year. Discussions around a potential visit of Kim to Moscow are ongoing, as noted by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko.
As part of North Korea’s military advancements, Kim Jong Un recently oversaw tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones, with state media emphasizing plans for increased production. Kim has prioritized the development of drones, as part of expanding North Korea’s military capabilities. The Korean Central News Agency depicted Kim observing tests of a large reconnaissance drone, resembling the U.S.-made RQ-4B Global Hawk, and taking part in airborne exercises in an early-warning aircraft resembling the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail. Other images revealed drones being used in attack simulations against designated targets.
According to the agency, these tests demonstrated the reconnaissance drone’s potential to monitor multiple targets and enhance tactical intelligence operations. New explosive drones with unspecified AI capabilities are designed for various missions, enhancing North Korea’s capacity to neutralize threats. Kim has shown satisfaction with these advancements and reiterated that drones and AI are top priorities for modernizing his armed forces, emphasizing adaptability to contemporary warfare. The tests occurred during his visits to drone technology centers and electronic warfare research facilities.
South Korean military spokesperson Lee Sung Joon commented on the newly unveiled early-warning aircraft, speculating that North Korea might have adapted an existing airframe, potentially incorporating Russian components. However, he noted that the aircraft’s operational capabilities remain unproven and suggested vulnerabilities to interception, though he provided no further details on this assessment.