North Korea sends more troops to Russia

Seoul

North Korea has reportedly deployed additional troops to Russia, supporting Moscow’s war against Ukraine, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said Thursday.

The latest assessment suggests that between 1,000 and 3,000 North Korean troops were transported to Russia’s Kursk region via cargo ships and military aircraft between January and February. This marks the second round of such deployments, the report stated.

Previously, North Korean troops were reported to have been absent from combat since mid-January due to heavy casualties. The NIS estimated around 300 were killed, while approximately 2,700 were injured. Earlier this month, a Ukrainian military spokesperson told CNN that North Korean soldiers had not been seen on the battlefield for three weeks, likely due to significant losses.

According to Ukrainian officials and Western intelligence, North Korea has sent about 12,000 troops to Russia, with an estimated 4,000 either killed or wounded.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, reported in late January that Ukraine had made advances in Kursk. However, Russia has claimed to have recaptured the area.

North Korea and Russia have strengthened military ties since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. In November, Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified a mutual defense treaty with North Korea, pledging military assistance if either country is attacked.