North Korean troops to Russia could increase dramatically, with up to 30,000 additional soldiers potentially joining Moscow’s war efforts in Ukraine, according to reports from Ukrainian intelligence and Western security sources. If confirmed, this would nearly triple the estimated 14,000 North Korean troops already deployed to support Russia last year during operations in the Kursk region.
This development marks a major escalation in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and underscores the accelerating military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang, particularly since the two nations signed a mutual defense pact more than a year ago.
Ukrainian Intel: North Korean Troops to Russia Could Engage in Combat
Ukrainian intelligence assessments cited by CNN suggest there is “a great possibility” that the new North Korean troops to Russia will directly engage in combat operations within Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. These forces could participate in large-scale offensives alongside Russian units. The report also notes that Russia’s Defense Ministry is expected to equip these troops with weapons, ammunition, and gear, integrating them into formal Russian combat units. This follows previous deployments in which North Korean troops supported Russia’s defensive operations in Kursk.
Satellite Imagery and Military Movements Support Claims
Supporting the claims of expanded North Korean troops to Russia, satellite images reviewed by the Open Source Centre show Ilyushin-76 military transport aircraft on the runway at Sunan Airport in Pyongyang on June 4. These same aircraft were used during last year’s troop deployments.
Additionally, a Russian ship tied to earlier troop movements has reportedly arrived at a Russian port, while other Russian aircraft appear to be modified for personnel transport, further indicating preparation for a new wave of military cooperation.
North Korea Confirms Deaths, Honors Fallen Soldiers
North Korea, which only publicly acknowledged the deployment of its troops to Russia in April, recently broadcast state-run footage showing leader Kim Jong Un honoring the coffins of North Korean soldiers killed in combat. According to Ukrainian estimates, around 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been either killed or wounded while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, primarily during their deployment in the Kursk region.
The dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia is part of a broader, rapidly evolving military partnership. Beyond manpower, Pyongyang has supplied Russia with tens of thousands of containers suspected to contain artillery shells, anti-air missiles, and anti-tank weaponry.
Defense analysts warn that Russia’s reciprocal support—particularly in the form of advanced weaponry and defense technologies—is helping to revitalize North Korea’s aging military-industrial complex. Reports indicate Pyongyang now possesses and is actively deploying Russia’s Pantsir-S1 air defense system around its capital.
U.S. intelligence also believes Russia has assisted North Korea in improving its KN-23 ballistic missiles and has transferred advanced electronic warfare capabilities.
Concerns from Indo-Pacific Allies
Experts say the growing security cooperation represented by the movement of North Korean troops to Russia is a source of rising anxiety for U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly Japan and South Korea.
Former Ukrainian ambassador to Japan Sergiy Korsunsky expressed grave concerns, saying, “This cooperation involving North Korean troops to Russia could modernize North Korea’s defense base significantly. Roads and bridges are being constructed for a two-way military supply route that supports the ongoing presence of North Korean troops to Russia.” He added that drone and hypersonic missile technology may also be part of the deal.
Korsunsky emphasized the strategic implications: “Such an increase in manpower, especially with North Korean troops to Russia joining combat operations, would be a dangerous development and could pose a clear and present danger to Ukraine. This conflict is already increasing the chances of a broader European war while shifting the power balance in East Asia.”
Shoigu Confirms Combat Engineer Deployment
In June, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu announced plans for North Korea to send 1,000 combat engineers and 5,000 military builders to assist in reconstruction projects in the war-damaged Kursk region. His visit to Pyongyang was part of a mission to deliver “special instructions” from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The planned deployment of 30,000 North Korean troops to Russia marks a significant and alarming deepening of military collaboration between two authoritarian regimes. Beyond the battlefield impact in Ukraine, this alliance could reshape regional dynamics in Asia and Europe, with ripple effects on global security and diplomatic stability.
As Moscow and Pyongyang grow closer, the international community will need to respond swiftly and strategically to prevent this alignment from expanding into an enduring axis of military cooperation.
India-France Joint Military Exercise Shakti-VIII Concludes With High-Impact Tactical Engagement
[…] North Korean Troops to Russia: 30,000 May Join War in Ukraine, Reports Warn of Escalation […]