North Korea's Shadow Troop Deployment in Russia: New Tensions in Ukraine Conflict

North Korea has increased its military presence in Russia to support the war against Ukraine, with Seoul's intelligence suggesting significant troop deployment. Despite claims of no recent combat, reports indicate heavy casualties among North Korean soldiers, raising questions about Russia and North Korea's military collaboration.

North Korea seems to have mobilized more troops to back Russia in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) revealed on Thursday, as cited by local media outlets. The NIS is currently evaluating the scale of this deployment, as reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap.

According to Yonhap, between 1,000 and 3,000 North Korean soldiers were transported to Kursk using Russian cargo ships and military aircraft between January and February. This marks a second wave of such deployments. Earlier NIS assessments indicated these troops had been missing from combat in Kursk since mid-January, probably due to significant casualties—approximately 300 fatalities and 2,700 injuries were estimated.

Colonel Oleksandr Kindratenko, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military's Special Operations Forces, reported to CNN that North Korean soldiers had not been seen on the frontline for the last three weeks, likely retreating post-heavy losses. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak also acknowledged similar reports.

Intelligence from Ukraine and Western sources suggests that around 12,000 North Korean troops have been dispatched to Russia, with about 4,000 either killed or injured. Meanwhile, CNN, referencing the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War, noted that Ukraine had made gains in Kursk by late January, while Russia claimed to have regained control of the region.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin signed a bilateral treaty in November with North Korea, promising mutual military assistance if either party was attacked. The military collaboration between Russia and North Korea has intensified since the conflict with Ukraine began in February 2022.