Military Intelligence Says North Korean Army Arrived In Russia-Ukraine Battlefield

Leader Kim Jong-un visited the training center of the North Korae special forces. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - The Ukrainian military intelligence agency said on Thursday the first unit of North Korean troops trained in Russia had been deployed in the Kursk region, Russia's border region where Ukrainian forces launched a major offensive in August.

"The first unit of the DPRK military, trained at eastern Russia's training ground, has arrived at the Russia-Ukraine war battle zone. In particular, on October 23, 2024, their presence was recorded in the Kursk region," the Ukrainian intelligence agency said in a statement.

It said a total of about 12,000 North Korean soldiers, including 500 officers and three generals, were already in Russia, and training was underway at five military bases.

Deputy Defense Minister of Russia Yunus-Bek Yevkurov was appointed to oversee North Korea's military training, the agency said.

The Kremlin has previously dismissed reports of the deployment of North Korean troops as "false news". However, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday it was Moscow's business to implement a partnership agreement with Pyongyang.

President Putin has not denied that North Korean troops are currently in Russia.

Ukraine has previously asked its allies to respond firmly to North Korea's involvement in the war by imposing new sanctions and further isolating Pyongyang.

Separately, a US official said Uncle Sam's country had seen Ukrainian reports of North Korean troops in Kursk and was working to strengthen them.

On Wednesday, the US said it had seen evidence North Korea had sent 3,000 troops to Russia for possible deployments in Ukraine.

Earlier, South Korea's National Intelligence Service said North Korea had sent 3,000 troops, including special forces, to Russia's Far East for training and aclimatization at military bases there, perhaps to deploy in combat.

Moscow and Pyongyang's relations grew closer after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and they signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement in June.

President Putin said the agreement included a reciprocal aid clause for each party to help other parties ward off external aggression.

North Korea has supplied ballistic missiles and ammunition to Russia for its war in Ukraine, Kyiv and its Western allies said, but Pyongyang denied it.