A record number of North Korean citizens have arrived in Russia in recent months.
An Unprecedented Increase
They are all officially citing "studies" as the purpose of their visit.
Data from the Russian Border Service shows that over 3,700 North Koreans entered the country in the third quarter of 2024 alone, with 3,765 arriving between July and September, according to Ziare.
This is an unprecedented increase, according to Russian news outlet Meduza.
This surge coincides with reports suggesting North Korean troops may have been deployed to support Russian forces in Ukraine.
Not Confirmed by Russia or North Korea
The first reports emerged in October, indicating that North Korea might be sending military personnel to bolster Russia’s war effort. Officially, however, the number of North Korean students in Russia remains small.
Russian authorities reported that as of April 2024, only around 130 North Korean students were studying at Russian institutions, with an additional 100 applications submitted for the upcoming academic year.
Neither Russia nor North Korea has confirmed the deployment of North Korean soldiers in combat roles.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently commented that North Korean leaders “take their agreements with Russia seriously.”
While specific details remain unverified, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated at the end of October that as many as 8,000 North Korean troops may already be stationed in the Kursk region of Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Ukrainian forces encountered North Korean units during combat in the Kursk area, marking the first documented clash between Ukrainian forces and these North Korean troops.
