North Korea has officially admitted that it sent soldiers to Russia to help in the war against Ukraine. Until now, many countries suspected this, but North Korea had not said anything publicly. On Monday, the North’s military leaders announced that their soldiers were deployed to help Russia take back the Kursk region, which they claimed Ukraine had captured during a surprise attack last year.
Earlier, officials from the United States, South Korea, and Ukraine reported that North Korea had sent between 10,000 and 12,000 soldiers to Russia in late 2024, but the country had remained silent at the time. Their announcement came just two days after Russia declared that it had completely retaken the Kursk region, although Ukraine disagreed, saying fighting was still going on there.
North Korea’s leader decided to send troops after signing a defense agreement with Russia in June 2024. This deal promised that if either country was attacked, the other would come to help right away. The North Korean statement said their leader described the mission as an effort to “wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers” and help liberate the Kursk region alongside the Russian army.
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The North Korean announcement did not say exactly how many soldiers were sent or how many had died. However, earlier reports from South Korea’s military suggested that about 4,000 soldiers had been killed or wounded in the battles. South Korea also stated that an additional 3,000 troops were deployed to Russia earlier this year.
North Korean soldiers are known for their strict training and discipline. But experts say they became easy targets for Ukrainian drone and artillery attacks because they were not used to the battlefield conditions in Ukraine. Despite this, Ukrainian intelligence has said that North Korean forces gained important battle experience and played a big role in Russia’s strategy of using large numbers of soldiers to push back Ukrainian forces in Kursk.
The North Korean leader praised his troops, calling them heroes who fought for justice. He announced that a monument will be built in Pyongyang to honor their achievements. Families of the soldiers who fought will be given special support from the government. Flowers will also be placed at the graves of those who lost their lives.
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Meanwhile, South Korea’s government reacted strongly, demanding that the country pull its soldiers out of Russia immediately. They accused North Korea of helping an illegal invasion and said that sacrificing young soldiers for political reasons was an “act against humanity.”
Russia Praises Troops as Ukraine Denies Defeat
During a meeting in Moscow, Russia’s top military leaders told their president that the Kursk region had been fully reclaimed. They said North Korean troops fought side-by-side with Russian soldiers and showed great bravery, strength, and professionalism during the battles.
However, Ukraine’s military disagreed. They said that Ukrainian forces were still fighting in parts of the Kursk region and had not fully pulled out. If Russia’s claim is confirmed, it would mean that Ukraine loses a key bargaining chip for any future peace talks.
Recently, the leaders of the United States and Ukraine met in Vatican City during the funeral of a major world figure to talk about a possible ceasefire. The talks were described as very important. However, there were mixed feelings, as just a day later, doubts were raised about whether Russia would be serious about ending the war.
North Korea’s military and political ties with Russia have become much stronger in recent months. Besides sending troops, it has also supplied Russia with a large number of weapons. Experts worry that in return, Russia might give North Korea advanced military technology that could help boost its nuclear weapons program. North Korea is also expected to get economic help and other benefits from Russia in exchange for its support.