On October 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin did not deny Ukraine’s claims about North Korea deploying soldiers to the Russian border, stating, “We are coordinating with our North Korean friends.” This comes amid reports from Ukraine indicating that North Korean troops have arrived in the combat zone of Kursk, where Russian forces have been engaged in efforts to repel Ukrainian advances for several months.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine over two years ago, the situation has escalated significantly. Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into Kursk on August 6 from the northeast of Ukraine, catching Moscow off guard and boosting the morale of the Ukrainian public.
In June, Putin signed a mutual defense agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, leading many to believe that North Korea has been providing weapons and support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. However, the actual involvement of North Korean troops on the ground would mark a significant escalation in the conflict.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported on the same date, stating, “The first units of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea have arrived in the combat zone of the Russo-Ukrainian war,” with records indicating their presence in Kursk as of October 23.
Ukraine claims that the North Korean troop deployment consists of about 12,000 personnel, though it has not specified how many of those are stationed in Kursk. According to the United States and South Korea, thousands of North Korean soldiers have reportedly been sent to Russia for training.
Putin’s remarks came just hours after the lower house of the Russian parliament unanimously approved a treaty with North Korea, which stipulates mutual assistance in the event of aggression. This treaty is expected to be passed by the upper house on November 6.
Additionally, according to reports from Yonhap News Agency, South Korea has maintained a firm stance against directly supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine. However, President Yoon Suk-yeol, on the same day, indicated that if North Korea sends special forces to assist Russia in its offensive against Ukraine, Seoul may adopt a more flexible approach in line with Russian-North Korean military cooperation.
He added that South Korea would consider phased assistance to Ukraine and discuss measures necessary to ensure security on the Korean Peninsula.
The United States has issued warnings, stating that if North Korean troops engage in combat in Ukraine, they will be considered legitimate military targets by Kyiv.
