The United States issued a warning on Monday regarding the movement of North Korean soldiers toward Russia's western Kursk region, which Ukraine invaded in August. Ukrainian forces are preparing for potential imminent assaults involving these new troops.
The Pentagon reported that approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to train in eastern Russia, with many now moving toward the battlefield in the Kursk region. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops in Kursk, describing it as “a dangerous expansion” of the conflict.
Ukrainian and American officials had indicated last week that several thousand North Korean troops had already arrived in the Kursk area. Military experts note that while this number is too small to significantly alter the broader battlefield dynamics, it may still assist Moscow in regaining territory within the Kursk region.
John Foreman, a former British defense attaché, expressed that as the number of North Korean troops increases, their influence would likely be observed through a Russian counteroffensive. However, the specifics of how these forces will aid Russia's counterattack remain uncertain. Analysts suggest that they might be deployed for direct assaults or tasked with protecting rear positions, thereby permitting Russian units to engage more aggressively.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that North Korean troops could begin combat operations early in the week, with reports from front-line units indicating commanders have cautioned about an impending assault.
The Ukrainian Army has issued a Korean phrase book to help its soldiers communicate with North Korean troops, encouraging them to surrender. Russian forces have been actively trying to reclaim territories lost during a significant Ukrainian offensive in August, and military experts propose that the introduction of North Korean troops could enhance Russian military efforts.
The recapture of the Ukrainian-occupied area is critical for Russia, undermining Ukraine's objectives for leveraging territory in negotiations. Nevertheless, experts remain skeptical about the effectiveness of North Korean troops on the battlefield, given their lack of combat experience since the 1950s.
U.S. Defense Department Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that details regarding the type of troops and weapons being deployed by North Korea were not available. Viktor Kevliuk, a retired Ukrainian colonel, emphasized the challenges of commanding North Korean troops due to language barriers, differing training, and unfamiliarity with the local terrain.
The Ukrainian military intelligence indicated that Russia plans to assign one interpreter for every 30 North Korean soldiers for better coordination. This report remains unverified. Following Ukraine's earlier offensive in the Kursk region, Russian forces have begun regaining territory but have faced logistical delays in troop deployments.
President Vladimir Putin's difficulties in addressing the situation have reportedly frustrated him, with recent successes touted regarding recapturing villages from Ukrainian control. Analysts anticipate that North Korean troops may be utilized in aggressive operations focused on Ukrainian fortified positions, following Russia's historical strategy of overwhelming opposition with numbers.
Current estimates suggest that Russia has around 50,000 troops in the Kursk region, while independent analyses indicate about 30,000 Ukrainian forces remain engaged there. The addition of 10,000 North Korean troops could shift the balance, although opinions on their effectiveness vary.
Concerns surrounding the collaboration between Russia and North Korea were raised, particularly by officials from South Korea, who briefed NATO about the situation. The involvement of North Korean troops is viewed as a potential threat to security in both the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions, undermining stability in the Korean Peninsula and further fueling the conflict in Ukraine.