North Korea sends up to 30,000 soldiers to support Russia

North Korea sends up to 30,000 soldiers to support Russia

North Korea plans to multiply the number of its troops fighting for Russia on the front lines in Ukraine. An additional 25,000 to 30,000 troops will be sent to support Moscow, according to an intelligence assessment by Ukrainian officials.

Expected arrival of troops

The troops could arrive in Russia in the coming months, according to an assessment obtained by CNN. This would complement the 11,000 soldiers deployed in November to help repel the Ukrainian advance into the Kursk region. About 4,000 of these North Korean soldiers are believed to have been killed or wounded in the operation, but cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has intensified since then.

Role of the Russian defense ministries

The Ukrainian assessment suggests that the Russian Defense Ministry is capable of providing “necessary equipment, weapons and ammunition” to enable “further integration into Russian combat units.” It also emphasizes that there is “a strong possibility” that North Korean troops will engage in fighting in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine “to reinforce the Russian contingent, especially during large-scale offensive operations.”

Preparations for troop movement

Signs suggest that Russian military aircraft are being converted to carry personnel. This highlights the enormous undertaking of moving tens of thousands of foreign troops through Siberia, which borders North Korea to the southwest. Possible preparations for the new deployment were spotted by satellite images, including the arrival of a ship that could be linked to recent operations at a Russian port and cargo planes at North Korea's Sunan airport.

Secret operations and training

North Korea initially sent 11,000 soldiers to Russia in the fall of 2024 in great secrecy, with President Vladimir Putin only confirming the deployment at the end of April 2025. In October, North Korean soldiers were pictured receiving frontline equipment at the Sergeevka military base.

Ongoing troop transports

A Ropucha-class ship, which can carry up to 400 soldiers, docked in the Dunai port near Nakhodka in November. According to satellite images from the Open Source Center, the same type of troop transport ship docked again at Dunai Port on May 18. Flight patterns also suggest that the movement of additional troops may be underway.

Analyzes and forecasts

Joe Byrne, senior analyst at the Open Source Center, said: "These activities appear to indicate that the routes previously used to relocate DPRK troops are active and could be used for future large-scale personnel transfers."

Expectations regarding troop numbers

Jenny Town, senior fellow and director of the Korean program at the Stimson Center, said Ukraine's estimate of up to 30,000 troops "seems high, but they certainly could be able to reach that number." However, it is likely that North Korea will deploy the troops gradually. "There are rumors that Russian generals have already trained soldiers in North Korea," she said.

Reactions from Ukraine

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said Kyiv suspected further North Korean troop movements but warned that Kim Jong Un could risk endangering his own government by exposing so many elite soldiers to high casualty rates on the front. “Russia's deployment of elite troops from North Korea shows not only increasing dependence on totalitarian regimes, but also serious problems with mobilization,” Umerov said.

Strategic developments

On Friday, Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russia was massing 110,000 troops near the frontline city of Pokrovsk to prepare for a possible offensive. Sergei Shoigu, a key adviser to Putin, visited Pyongyang on June 17 to announce the deployment of 1,000 North Korean deminers and 5,000 military construction workers.

International reactions and transparency

South Korea's intelligence agency has reportedly confirmed that North Korea has begun selecting personnel for overseas deployments, which could potentially take place as early as July or August. While the exact numbers vary, it is clear that the public is becoming increasingly aware of the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

conclusion

Current developments in the conflict-ridden region suggest that cooperation between North Korea and Russia is at a new high, which not only changes the strategic landscape in the region but could also increase global geopolitical tensions. In an emerging conflict, there is a clear inclination towards military cooperation between these two states, which could have significant implications.