North Korea has officially confirmed it deployed troops to support Russia’s war against Ukraine, marking the first public admission of its military involvement.
According to a report by state news agency KCNA, Pyongyang’s forces contributed to Russian efforts to “completely liberate” the western Kursk region, following an order from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The announcement comes shortly after Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov publicly praised the “heroism” of North Korean troops, marking Moscow’s first formal acknowledgment of their role. Western officials previously informed the BBC that approximately 1,000 of the 11,000 North Korean troops deployed had been killed over a three-month period.
Gerasimov also claimed that Russia had regained full control of the Kursk region, a claim Ukraine has denied.
In response to the announcement, the United States warned that North Korea must now bear responsibility for prolonging the conflict. South Korean and Western intelligence agencies had long reported the deployment, with KCNA now stating it was in accordance with a mutual defence treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Kim Jong Un, quoted by KCNA, said, “They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honour of the motherland.”
The report hailed the deployment as a demonstration of “alliance and brotherhood” between North Korea and Russia, describing it as a “friendship proven by blood” that would strengthen ties in the future. It also signalled North Korea’s willingness to continue supporting Russian forces.
However, KCNA did not clarify what will happen to the North Korean troops once their mission in Kursk concludes, or whether they would return home.
Speculation about North Korean troop involvement first surfaced in October, following intensified relations between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin, culminating in a pact pledging mutual support in cases of “aggression”.
Military experts have raised concerns over the troops’ capabilities. Former British Army tank commander Col Hamish de Bretton-Gordon earlier commented:
“These are barely trained troops led by Russian officers who they don’t understand.”
Despite these shortcomings, Ukraine’s top commander, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, acknowledged that the North Korean soldiers were causing significant challenges on the battlefield.
“They are numerous. An additional 11,000-12,000 highly motivated and well-prepared soldiers who are conducting offensive actions. They operate based on Soviet tactics. They rely on their numbers,” Gen Syrskyi told Ukraine’s TSN Tyzhden programme.
Follow us on: