In an interview, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed on October 23 in Rome that North Korea has sent troops to Russia to participate in the ongoing war in Ukraine, marking a significant shift in Russian military operations. He described the deployment of North Korean forces as a “very serious” escalation that will have repercussions in both Europe and Asia. NATO spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah also stated that allied nations have verified evidence of North Korea’s troop movements to Russia.
When asked about the specific activities of the North Korean military, Austin remarked that it remains to be observed, without specifying the exact number of troops sent to Russia. U.S. officials estimate the number at around 3,000.
U.S. intelligence officials indicated that they are preparing to release a wealth of information, including satellite images that show North Korean naval vessels heading to Russia’s eastern training areas in Vladivostok and further north. However, they noted that North Korean troops have yet to arrive in Ukraine.
Despite this, experts on Russian-North Korean relations view the dispatch of North Korean troops as a significant turning point. U.S. officials estimate that more than 600,000 Russians have been killed or wounded in the Ukrainian conflict, prompting President Putin to seek assistance from foreign mercenaries to avoid domestic unrest over the troop losses.
In a statement on October 23, Dakhlallah confirmed, “Allies possess verified evidence of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea dispatching troops to Russia. If these troops are intended for combat in Ukraine, it represents a marked escalation of North Korean support for Russia’s unlawful war and another indication of Russia’s heavy losses on the front lines.”
The South Korean National Intelligence Service reported last week that since August 2023, North Korea has delivered 13,000 containers of artillery shells, missiles, and other conventional weapons to Russia to replenish its dwindling arsenal.
For North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, participating in the Ukraine conflict could help break the country’s geopolitical isolation. Experts suggest that this is the first time in decades that North Korea possesses a powerful bargaining chip with global implications. Analysts believe that Kim’s long-term strategy may include improving the range of intercontinental ballistic missiles, with U.S. intelligence agencies also asserting that North Korea is eager to demonstrate its nuclear arsenal’s ability to reach American cities.
Victor Cha, a former National Security Council member during the Bush administration and now a scholar at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, noted, “If North Korean soldiers die for Putin, when Kim Jong-un comes knocking with requests, Putin will likely comply.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated at a press conference on October 21 that North Korea’s troop deployment indicates that Putin is trying to circumvent mobilization to avoid public discontent. He emphasized, “The growing unwillingness among citizens to be mobilized, coupled with North Korea’s involvement, shows that the war is impacting Russian society.”
