North Korean military personnel have resumed participation in assaults on Ukrainian defensive positions in Russia’s Kursk region, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The revelation marks a renewed escalation in Pyongyang’s involvement in Moscow’s war effort, reinforcing the strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea.
Speaking on the latest battlefield developments, Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian forces had repelled new attacks in the Kursk region, where Russian troops, reinforced by North Korean soldiers, attempted fresh offensives.
“In the Kursk operation area, new assaults took place, with the Russian army once again deploying North Korean troops. A large number of enemy forces were eliminated—hundreds of Russian and North Korean soldiers,” Zelensky stated.
According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), Pyongyang has deployed approximately 11,000 soldiers to support Russia’s operations. Intelligence estimates suggest that at least 300 North Korean troops have been killed, while another 2,700 have been wounded since the deployment began in fall 2024.
The involvement of North Korean forces was initially observed during Russia’s offensives in Kursk, where Ukrainian units had been engaged in heavy combat since early August 2024. The reappearance of these forces in direct attacks suggests that Pyongyang remains committed to aiding Russia’s war effort, despite international condemnation and concerns over North Korea’s military exports to Moscow.
The renewed presence of North Korean troops in active combat raises serious concerns for Western allies, who have been monitoring North Korea’s deepening military ties with Russia. Pyongyang’s assistance to Moscow has included artillery shells, short-range ballistic missiles, and now direct manpower support on the battlefield.