More than six months after the story first broke, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Russia’s war against Ukraine. “We will always honor the Korean heroes who gave their lives for Russia, for our common freedom, along with their Russian brothers in arms,” he commented on April 27.
Putin's statement was echoed in a similar official confirmation from North Korea. Pyongyang praised the “heroic deeds” of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside the Russian army in a front-page article published by the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper last weekend.
Allegations of North Korean troops' involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine first began circulating in October 2024. However, the Kremlin initially denied North Korea's presence, and Russian officials remained silent on the issue until late April.
Moscow and Pyongyang appeared to coordinate their recent statements, suggesting that both partners felt it was time to confirm the involvement of North Korean forces in Russia's war. The official confirmation came as Putin announced the defeat of Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region, where the bulk of North Korean troops were believed to be stationed.
Moscow's decision to confirm the presence of North Korean soldiers after months of denials could damage the Kremlin's reputation at a time when questions are already being asked about Russia's commitment to U.S.-led peace talks to end the war in Ukraine. In recent days, U.S. President Donald Trump has signaled his growing frustration with Putin's apparent delaying tactics, suggesting the Russian leader may be “pushing” him to do so.
The appearance of North Korean troops alongside their Russian counterparts on the front lines of the war against Ukraine represents the latest stage in a deepening military alliance between the two countries. North Korea has been supplying Russia with significant amounts of military aid since the early stages of the war in 2022. The supplies include millions of artillery shells as well as ballistic missiles, which have been used to devastating effect against Ukrainian cities.
North Korea's direct involvement in the war against Ukraine is a watershed moment in modern European history. It is also widely seen as an indication of Russia's growing recruitment problems.
While the Kremlin still has vast untapped reserves of manpower that could be called upon, Putin is believed to be extremely reluctant to mobilize again for fear of a domestic backlash within Russia. This makes it increasingly difficult to replenish the depleted ranks of his invading army as heavy casualties continue to be sustained.
For much of the war, Putin has relied on a combination of recruits drawn from Russia’s prison population and volunteers attracted by generous financial incentives that typically amount to many times the average Russian salary. But with the Russian military now reportedly losing more than a thousand men a day, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find enough men to maintain the pace of offensive operations in Ukraine.
Until now, North Korean troops have been involved in combat operations on Russian territory, in the fierce battles to drive Ukrainian troops out of Russia's Kursk region. However, with their involvement now publicly confirmed by both Moscow and Pyongyang, officials in Kyiv are raising concerns that North Korean troops could soon be redeployed to Ukrainian territory. This would represent a dangerous international escalation with unpredictable consequences for the wider region.
North Korea is now firmly established as one of the Kremlin’s most important allies in the invasion of Ukraine. Pyongyang’s involvement began with artillery shells and has expanded to include ballistic missiles and large numbers of warheads. This comprehensive military support allows Russia to sustain the ongoing war effort.
Ukraine’s allies are still searching for an appropriate response to North Korea’s expanding military presence on Europe’s eastern border. Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has called for increased sanctions against Russia and North Korea, while warning that the Koreans are gaining valuable experience in modern warfare in Ukraine, which could have serious implications for international security. In the absence of an overwhelming Western response, it seems safe to assume that North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will continue to deepen.
Olivia Janczyk is Associate Director of the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center.
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