North Korea sends more troops to Russia, redeploys soldiers to Kursk frontline: Report

North Korea has sent additional soldiers to Russia and redeployed troops to the frontline in Russia’s Kursk region.

More than 10,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Russia last year to support its fight against a surprise Ukrainian offensive in the border region, according to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, AFP reported on Thursday (February 27).

Some of these soldiers are now being moved back to combat positions after previous reports suggested they had been withdrawn.

An official from Seoul’s National Intelligence Agency said that troops who had been pulled from the Kursk frontline in mid-January due to heavy losses have been “redeployed.” The official added that “some additional troop deployments appear to have taken place,” but the exact scale is still being assessed.

Ukraine’s claims

Ukraine has claimed to have captured or killed several North Korean soldiers in Kursk. President Volodymyr Zelensky has also released footage of interrogations with individuals he identified as North Korean prisoners.

Earlier this month, South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo published an interview with a wounded North Korean soldier who described “brutal” fighting on the frontline. The soldier said many of his comrades had been killed by drone and artillery strikes.

Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has publicly confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia. However, the two countries signed a mutual defence agreement during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rare visit to North Korea last year.

Russia-North Korea relations

Alongside military deployments, North Korean troops have also been arranged to work at Russian construction sites, ensuring their continued presence even after the war, according to an analysis by Iowy Institute.

Russia, facing ongoing personnel shortages, may continue using North Korean troops as mercenaries in future conflicts, setting a precedent for their deployment elsewhere, the Lowy Institute said in an analysis report.

North Korea has increasingly sought closer ties with Moscow to reduce its reliance on China for security guarantees, while Russia benefits from Pyongyang’s support as it fights an extended war in Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies