Newly analyzed satellite images have revealed that North Korean troops, who were deployed to Russia last year to aid in its war against Ukraine, took a clandestine sea route to reach a remote Russian military base. The discovery, made by researchers at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California, confirms long-standing suspicions about the secretive nature of the North Korea-Russia military cooperation.
According to the analysis shared with CNN, at least two Russian naval vessels transported North Korean troops to a military port in Dunai, a secluded area in Russia’s Far East, in October and November 2024. These covert movements align with previous intelligence reports from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), which had speculated about North Korean forces arriving via Russian warships from port towns like Chongjin, Hamhung, and Musudan. However, at the time, South Korean officials had little concrete evidence beyond a blurry radar image.
Secretive Transfers Under the Cover of Darkness
The new satellite imagery now provides substantial proof that North Korean troops were transported discreetly, avoiding major ports like Vladivostok in favor of Dunai, a less scrutinized military base.
“I don’t think that the Russians or the North Koreans want these transfers caught on camera,” said Sam Lair, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies. “The secrecy element is quite remarkable.”
Lair and his team identified Ropucha and Alligator-class Russian landing ships as the primary vessels used for transporting the North Korean forces. These ships, capable of carrying up to 400 soldiers per trip, were identified by comparing satellite images with previously documented photos from the Japanese Defense Ministry in March 2022, when the same ships were seen passing through Japanese waters.
To maintain secrecy, North Korean troops likely boarded the ships at night, making it nearly impossible to capture clear visual evidence of their departure. However, the situation in Dunai was different—satellite images captured movements at the Russian military port, where it seems the authorities were less cautious in hiding the troops’ arrival.
Unlike Vladivostok, which is a densely populated civilian port, Dunai is a secure military base, making it a strategically advantageous location for receiving and relocating North Korean forces without public or media scrutiny.
Where Are the North Korean Troops Stationed?
Following their arrival, the South Korean NIS published satellite images in October 2024, revealing that North Korean troops were stationed at multiple military facilities across Russia’s Far East:
- Sergeevka training ground in Primorsky Krai (near Vladivostok)
- A military base in Ussuriysk
- A military facility in Khabarovsk
The images, taken on October 16, 2024, showed at least 400 North Korean soldiers in Ussuriysk and 240 soldiers training in Khabarovsk.
Heavy Losses on the Battlefield
Despite their training and preparation, North Korean troops have suffered severe casualties in combat. The South Korean NIS reported on February 27, 2025, that North Korea has continued sending reinforcements to Russia due to high fatality rates among its deployed forces.
Originally, intelligence estimated that 1,500 North Korean troops were sent to Russia. However, this number has since swelled to over 12,000 and continues to increase, despite significant losses on the battlefield.
According to Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, over 4,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed so far. If accurate, this would mean that nearly one-third of all deployed North Korean troops have perished.
A major factor contributing to their heavy casualties is Russia’s tactical misuse of these soldiers.
“The North Korean military personnel fighting in the Kursk region are being used for frontal assaults without much military support such as artillery, armor, and drones, against some of the very best Ukrainian forces,” said Bruce Bennett, senior defense researcher at the Rand Corporation, in an interview with VOA.
Bennett noted that North Korean soldiers were trained for special operations, infiltration, and sabotage, rather than conventional large-scale frontal assaults. Their lack of proper adaptation to modern drone warfare and artillery-heavy battles has made them particularly vulnerable.
North Korean Troops Face Language Barriers and Tactical Disadvantages
One of the most significant challenges for North Korean troops fighting in Russia is the language barrier.
A UK intelligence report previously assessed that “Russia and DPRK forces are almost certainly experiencing interoperability difficulties. The two forces do not share a common language, and DPRK troops almost certainly have difficulties integrating into Russia’s command-and-control structure.” This lack of coordination has further weakened the North Korean forces on the battlefield.
Social media platforms have been flooded with videos of North Korean troops being ambushed by Ukrainian forces, who have superior battlefield awareness and communication.
Elite Storm Corps Suffer Heavy Losses
A significant portion of the North Korean forces deployed to Russia belong to the Storm Corps, also known as the 11th Corps of the Korean People’s Army. This is North Korea’s elite special forces unit, trained in guerrilla warfare, assassination missions, and infiltration tactics.
However, instead of utilizing their special operations expertise, Russian commanders have deployed them as conventional infantry units for trench warfare and urban combat, which has led to massive losses.
Ukrainian forces, aware of this tactical misstep, have deliberately used combined arms strategies, drones, and artillery barrages to inflict maximum casualties on the North Korean soldiers.
Russia-North Korea Military Alliance Raises Global Concerns
Beyond the deployment of troops, North Korea has also supplied arms and ammunition to Russia in recent months. Western officials fear that, in exchange, Russia might provide Pyongyang with advanced military technology, including missile guidance systems and nuclear advancements.
The United States, South Korea, and their allies are deeply concerned that these technological exchanges could significantly enhance North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, further destabilizing the Korean Peninsula.
What’s Next for North Korean Troops in Russia?
Despite the heavy losses, North Korea appears committed to continuing its military support for Russia. For Pyongyang, the war in Ukraine presents a rare opportunity to gain real-world combat experience, which could strengthen its military capabilities in a potential future conflict with South Korea and the United States.
However, Kim Jong Un faces a dilemma. If casualties continue at this rate, domestic pressure in North Korea could mount, especially among the families of the fallen soldiers. While Kim’s regime exercises totalitarian control, the loss of thousands of trained special forces soldiers could weaken North Korea’s military readiness in the long run.
For now, the world watches closely as Russia and North Korea deepen their military ties—a partnership shrouded in secrecy but with potentially far-reaching consequences for global security.
The newly revealed satellite images provide the most concrete evidence to date that North Korea has secretly deployed troops to Russia using a covert maritime route. As the war in Ukraine continues, North Korea’s involvement in direct combat poses serious risks—both for its soldiers on the battlefield and for the global balance of power.
With thousands of North Korean troops already dead, the question remains: How long can Pyongyang sustain this military support before the cost becomes too high?
