For the First Time… Russia Reveals the Role of North Korean Soldiers in the Ukraine War

27th April 2025

2 minutes read

For the First Time… Russia Reveals the Role of North Korean Soldiers in the Ukraine War

In a major shift from its previously ambiguous stance, official Russian sources have confirmed the participation of North Korean forces in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Russian Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, praised the involvement of North Korean soldiers in repelling the Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region, highlighting their “resilience and heroism,” according to Military Watch magazine.

Gerasimov stated: “I would like to specifically highlight the participation of Choson soldiers in the liberation of the Kursk border region. They provided significant support in defeating the Ukrainian army, in accordance with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement (Tactical Partnership Treaty) between the two countries. Choson soldiers and officers carried out combat missions alongside Russian troops, demonstrating high professionalism, strength, courage, and heroism during the escalation of operations against Ukraine.”

Following these statements, Russian state channel RT published an article titled: “No North Korean Betrayed His Oath: How Our Allies Helped Liberate Kursk,” confirming that North Korean army units “displayed exceptional discipline, coordination, and disregard for death, greatly contributing to the defeat of Ukrainian troops.”

Additional details reported by Russian media indicate that North Korean soldiers first underwent military training in Russia, where they learned modern combat tactics, drone operation, and adapted to battlefield conditions.

After training, they were deployed to the Kursk region, living in field conditions to avoid drawing attention, starting in the third defensive lines, then moving to the second, and finally participating in fortified defenses and direct assaults.

Reports emphasized that “North Korean soldiers excelled in coordination, discipline, endurance, and indifference to death,” with most being strong, well-trained young men, particularly from special forces units.

They participated in the liberation of the Kurenevsky area, fought near Staraya and Novaya Sorochina, and broke through defenses reaching Kurilovka.

It remains uncertain whether North Korean forces will continue their operations alongside Russian troops in the disputed Donbas region.

While Kursk is internationally recognized as Russian territory — allowing North Korean support without major legal issues — participation in Donbas battles could expose Pyongyang to accusations of involvement in a legally sensitive conflict.

Meanwhile, although not officially acknowledged, North Korean military equipment has played a key role in supporting Russian operations.

North Korea reportedly sent over 6 million artillery shells to Russia by the end of 2024, boosting Russian artillery capabilities.

Some North Korean weapon systems even outperformed their Russian counterparts, such as the Bulsae-4 anti-tank missile system, which entered service in August 2024 and features a 10-kilometer range and top-attack capability — features absent in similar Russian systems.

Footage has also shown the deployment of Pukguksong-2 medium-range ballistic missiles in Russia, along with the use of KN-23 and KN-24 tactical missiles, 170 mm howitzers, and various types of multiple rocket launcher systems.