North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia’s Ukraine campaign are experiencing heavy casualties in a deepening alliance that threatens to disrupt international security dynamics.
At a Glance
- North Korea has sent between 10,000-12,000 troops to Russia since October to support Moscow’s war effort
- Recent deployments in February occurred after a mid-January pause due to heavy casualties
- An estimated 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in combat
- The military cooperation follows a mutual aid agreement between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin
- Experts fear Russia may reward North Korea with advanced weapons technology for its nuclear program
Fresh Deployments After Heavy Losses
North Korea has reportedly deployed additional troops to Russia’s Kursk region in early February after a temporary pause in January. Between 1,000 and 3,000 North Korean soldiers were transported via Russian cargo ships and military aircraft to bolster Moscow’s forces in Ukraine. These reinforcements come after previous North Korean units suffered significant casualties on the battlefield, forcing a tactical withdrawal.
“New assaults” were occurring in Kursk and North Korean soldiers were being “brought in again,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video address on Feb. 7.
“A significant number of occupiers have been eliminated — we’re talking hundreds of Russian and North Korean servicemen,” Zelenskyy added.
The redeployment follows a concerning trend that began last fall when North Korea first dispatched troops to support Russia’s war effort. Intelligence estimates suggest that since October, between 10,000 and 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia, with approximately 3,000 of them becoming casualties. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have remained officially silent about these troop movements.
But while they maintain their silence, international experts are warning that North Korea will be getting something in return from Russia. On top of normalizing trade and diplomatic relationships with the country, Russia could potentially give valuable resources to North Korea to help the country expand its technological abilities.
A Growing Military Alliance
The military cooperation between North Korea and Russia stems from a mutual aid agreement reached during a meeting between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin in June. This partnership marks a significant shift in geopolitical alignments, with North Korea providing substantial military support to Russia despite international sanctions and pressure. The relationship has strengthened considerably since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
“North Korea has been supplying a vast amount of conventional weapons to Russia, and last fall it sent about 10,000-12,000 troops to Russia as well, according to U.S., South Korean and Ukraine intelligence officials,” U.S., South Korean and Ukraine intelligence officials said.
Intelligence sources from Seoul report that North Korean troops who had been engaged in combat in the Kursk region were withdrawn in mid-January due to heavy losses. An official from Seoul’s National Intelligence Agency stated that forces have been “redeployed” with “some additional troop deployments appearing to have taken place.” The official added, “The exact scale is still being assessed.”
North Korean soldiers face significant challenges on the battlefield due to their lack of combat experience and unfamiliarity with the terrain. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reported substantial losses among the North Korean contingent. Ukrainian officials have released footage of interrogations with captured North Korean soldiers, providing further evidence of their participation in the conflict.
When Russian, Ukrainian, and innocent North Korean “soldiers” are being killed on the battlefield, it’s hard to imagine why Democrats and globalists want this war to continue.
