Media: North Korea deploys thousands of troops to support Russian military in Kursk South Korea’s National Intelligence Service says

North Korea has reportedly sent additional troops to aid Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The agency confirmed the redeployment of North Korean forces to the frontline in the Kursk region of western Russia, starting in early February, after a brief period of inactivity, Caliber.Az reports via Yonhap News.

While the exact number of troops remains unclear, the NIS noted that the new deployment follows reports suggesting between 1,000 and 3,000 North Korean soldiers were transported to the region by Russian cargo ships and military aircraft between January and February.

South Korean military sources have confirmed that over 1,000 additional troops are believed to have been dispatched to Russia this year.

This comes after North Korea had initially sent approximately 11,000 troops to Russia’s western front last year, particularly focusing on the Kursk area. However, reports indicated that North Korean forces had been largely absent from combat since mid-January, possibly due to heavy casualties.

The NIS estimates that 300 North Korean soldiers were killed and around 2,700 wounded during their involvement in the conflict.

As of now, the South Korean agency is still assessing the full scale of the recent troop deployment, with experts suggesting that these additional reinforcements may play a pivotal role in Russia’s ongoing military operations.

By Aghakazim Guliyev