Kim withdraws his troops from Ukraine… a symbolic gesture or a strategic shift?

In a surprising move, North Korea has recalled several of its senior military commanders from Russia, a significant step that may signal a shift in Pyongyang’s role in the Ukraine war and could affect the ongoing peace negotiations.

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According to the New York Post, North Korean state media announced the return of more than a dozen senior officers, including Lieutenant General Kim Yong Bok and General Sin Kom Chol. They were welcomed by leader Kim Jong-un in a ceremonial event, during which he praised their achievements in the “recapture” of Russia’s Kursk region.

Observers suggest that this withdrawal carries political implications beyond the military dimension. It reflects Moscow’s confidence in its ability to hold the region and repel any Ukrainian counteroffensive without the need for an overt display of North Korean support.

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Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at the Stimson Center, noted that Russia does not want the presence of North Korean troops to become a contentious issue at the negotiating table, especially since they never left Russian territory during their deployment.

North Korea had previously dispatched about 12,000 soldiers to Russia to support the military operation in the Kursk region, which last summer witnessed a large-scale Ukrainian offensive.

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For months, both sides remained silent about this deployment, until recent footage revealed a ceremony led by Kim Jong-un honoring the North Korean soldiers killed in combat.

At the latest welcoming event, Kim was seen embracing his returning commanders, declaring that “our army is a heroic army, doing what must be done today and will continue to do so tomorrow,” signaling North Korea’s continued commitment to supporting Moscow.

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Pyongyang’s backing is not limited to sending troops. It also includes supplying Russia with artillery and ammunition, along with a pledge to send an additional 6,000 workers to participate in reconstruction efforts in areas devastated by the fighting.

These developments carry a dual message: on one hand, reinforcing the image of a solid military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang; on the other, attempting to ease the sensitivity of the North Korean issue in the upcoming peace talks on Ukraine.

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