Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly relying on North Korean troops to assist in regaining parts of the Kursk region currently held by Ukrainian forces, as reported by the Financial Times on October 24.
Footage from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service shows these North Korean soldiers, disguised as Siberian ethnic groups like Buryats and Yakuts, training for their mission to support Russian troops.
The North Korean force, which is said to number around 12,000 soldiers, is expected to strengthen Russia’s efforts to reclaim the Kursk region, parts of which have been under Ukrainian control since August.
In addition to providing Russia with artillery and ballistic missiles, North Korea has also dispatched military officers to oversee the deployment of these weapons on the battlefield.
However, analysts remain skeptical that the size of this contingent will alter the course of the conflict.
Jack Watling, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, suggested that while the North Korean troops could boost Russian morale and cohesion, they are unlikely to bring about a major shift in the war.
“It’s a pretty low bar to be better than what the Russians have at the moment,” he commented.
This deployment comes as Russia continues to struggle with replenishing its forces, with Western estimates suggesting that over 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded in Ukraine.
The North Korean troops being deployed belong to the elite Eleventh Army, known as the "Storm Corps," which is highly trained and better equipped than the average North Korean soldier, who often lacks significant combat experience.
Previously, it was also reported that North Korea had sent fighter pilots to Russia, possibly to support the war in Ukraine.
