In the Ukraine war, the United States revealed on Wednesday (October 23) that at least 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia and are currently undergoing military training. This revelation comes as North Korea and Russia deepen their political and military ties, with Pyongyang already facing allegations of supplying arms to Moscow. The presence of North Korean troops in Russia marks an alarming escalation of North Korea’s involvement in the conflict, which has prompted strong reactions from Kyiv and its Western allies.
The deployment of these troops has raised concerns over the potential for North Korean forces to participate in combat alongside Russian soldiers in Ukraine, a move that would undoubtedly reshape the dynamics of the conflict. The United States and its allies have issued stern warnings, making it clear that if North Korean soldiers join the fight, they will be considered legitimate military targets.
According to John Kirby, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, the North Korean soldiers arrived in Russia in early to mid-October. They reportedly traveled by ship from North Korea to Vladivostok, a major Russian port city in the country’s far east. From there, the troops were transported to various Russian military training sites in eastern Russia, where they are currently engaged in training exercises.
“We do not yet know whether these soldiers will enter into combat alongside the Russian military,” Kirby told journalists. However, he emphasized that should the North Korean troops decide to participate in the conflict, they would become legitimate targets for Ukraine’s military. “If these North Korean soldiers decide to join the fight against Ukraine, they will become legitimate military targets,” Kirby reiterated.
North Korea’s state media has remained silent on the matter, while Moscow has neither confirmed nor denied the reports. When questioned, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova deflected inquiries, suggesting that reporters should ask Pyongyang about the status of its troops.
Seoul’s intelligence agency previously suggested that Pyongyang had agreed to send a “large-scale” troop deployment to Russia, and recent reports confirm that the number of North Korean soldiers in Russia could soon rise significantly. South Korean lawmaker Park Sun-won, following a briefing by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), revealed that an additional 1,500 troops had been sent to Russia, bringing the current total to 3,000. Furthermore, South Korean officials predict that North Korea could deploy as many as 10,000 soldiers to Russia by December.
This rapid escalation has led to increased international alarm. On Wednesday, Germany summoned North Korea’s envoy to express its disapproval of Pyongyang’s involvement in the conflict. “North Korea’s support of the Russian war of aggression directly threatens Germany’s security and the European peace order,” the German foreign ministry warned on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Kyiv has also issued a direct appeal to North Korean troops, urging them to reconsider their involvement. In a statement released by a group associated with Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyiv called on the North Korean soldiers to lay down their arms and avoid the same fate as countless Russian soldiers who have perished in the war. “You must not die senselessly in a foreign land,” the statement read. “You must not repeat the fate of hundreds of thousands of Russian soldiers who will never return home!”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly warned of the dangers of further escalation if North Korea intensifies its support for Russia. In an impassioned address on Tuesday night, Zelenskyy called on Kyiv’s allies to respond decisively to the latest developments. He emphasized that North Korean involvement could prolong the war and urged Ukraine’s partners to take more action to counter Russian aggression.
“It is important that our partners do not hide from this challenge,” Zelenskyy said. “And if Russia is still able to make this war bigger and longer, then everyone in the world who is not helping to force Russia to peace is actually helping Putin to fight.”
Zelenskyy’s plea for stronger international support coincided with news that Ukraine would receive significant financial backing from its Western allies. The G7 nations, led by the United States, have committed to making $50 billion in lending available to Ukraine this year. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen confirmed that the funds would come from profits generated by the interest on frozen Russian assets, marking a critical step in providing Kyiv with the resources it needs to sustain its defense efforts.
The growing cooperation between North Korea and Russia has raised serious questions about what Pyongyang stands to gain from supporting Moscow. Experts believe that North Korea’s involvement in the war could be part of a broader strategy to acquire advanced military technology and strategic assets in return for its assistance. In particular, North Korea is reportedly interested in acquiring surveillance satellites, submarine technology, and possibly security guarantees from Russia.
This partnership between the two isolated nations has drawn international attention. Both North Korea and Russia are under United Nations sanctions, with Pyongyang targeted for its nuclear weapons program and Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine. Nevertheless, the tightening of their alliance signals a shared desire to defy international norms and bolster their military capabilities.
In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a military deal that reportedly includes provisions for increased arms supplies and the sharing of military expertise. While the details of the agreement remain unclear, it is widely believed that the deployment of North Korean troops is part of this broader military pact.
The reported deployment of North Korean troops to Russia represents a significant shift in the landscape of the Ukraine war, raising concerns about a broader internationalization of the conflict. The possibility of North Korean soldiers entering the battlefield alongside Russian forces poses new challenges for Ukraine and its Western backers, who are already grappling with the complexities of a drawn-out war.
For Kyiv, the presence of North Korean troops introduces a new layer of uncertainty. Ukrainian military leaders will need to carefully assess the potential impact of these forces on the conflict and adjust their strategies accordingly. If North Korean soldiers do join the fight, it could signal the beginning of a new phase in the war, one in which foreign actors play a more direct role in shaping the outcome.
For Russia, North Korea’s involvement offers a lifeline as it struggles to maintain its military momentum in Ukraine. Russian forces have faced significant setbacks on the battlefield, and the infusion of additional manpower from North Korea could help Moscow shore up its defenses. However, the use of foreign troops also comes with risks, particularly if Kyiv and its allies respond with increased military aid or expanded sanctions.
As the situation unfolds, the international community will be closely monitoring the actions of North Korea, Russia, and Ukraine. The deployment of North Korean troops adds a new dimension to the conflict, heightening the risk of further escalation. However, it also presents an opportunity for diplomacy, as the involvement of foreign powers could encourage renewed efforts to bring about a negotiated settlement to the war.
South Korea, for its part, is taking the situation seriously and has announced plans to send a delegation to NATO headquarters in Brussels next week to brief the alliance on the unfolding developments. NATO officials will likely discuss how best to address the growing North Korea-Russia alliance and its implications for global security.
In the meantime, Ukraine’s Western allies, including the United States, continue to provide financial and military support to bolster Kyiv’s defenses. The $50 billion in lending announced this week will be crucial in helping Ukraine withstand the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict, as well as any new threats that emerge from the North Korea-Russia partnership.
As the war in Ukraine drags on, the involvement of North Korean troops marks a turning point that could either lead to further bloodshed or spark a renewed push for peace. The world now watches with bated breath as this complex and dangerous situation unfolds, with the hope that diplomacy can prevail over the specter of an even larger and more destructive conflict.
