Official Confirmation from North Korea

In a significant development, North Korea has confirmed the deployment of its troops to Russia, a move that has drawn global attention. This announcement marks the first time the regime has acknowledged the presence of its soldiers in the region amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Reported Numbers of Deployed Troops

According to intelligence assessments from U.S., South Korean, and Ukrainian sources, North Korea sent between 10,000 to 12,000 combat troops to support Russian military operations last fall. This confirmation comes after months of speculation regarding troop movements.

Statement from North Korea’s Leadership

The country’s Central Military Commission relayed a statement to state media, indicating that leader Kim Jong Un sanctioned the troop deployment under a mutual defense agreement. Kim emphasized that the mission of these forces is to “annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and liberate the Kursk area in cooperation with the Russian armed forces.”

“They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland,” said Kim Jong Un.

Casualties and Further Deployments

Reports from February indicated that North Korea may have sent additional soldiers to Russia after suffering significant casualties among its forces stationed on the frontlines. Earlier assessments from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimated that approximately 300 North Korean soldiers have died, with around 2,700 sustaining injuries during the combat.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously stated that casualties among North Korean forces could be as high as 4,000, yet estimates from U.S. sources are more conservative, estimating the figure around 1,200.