North Korean troops deployed to Russian airborne brigade, marine corps

South Korean intelligence data South Korea's intelligence agency revealed that North Korean troops deployed to Russia have likely been assigned to Moscow's airborne brigade and marine corps, with some soldiers already involved in combat.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) shared this assessment with lawmakers during a closed-door session of the parliamentary Intelligence Committee, as confirmed by People Power Party Rep. Lee Seong-kweun and Democratic Party Rep. Park Sun-won, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The NIS indicated that around 11,000 North Korean troops were relocated to Kursk in late October after completing training in northeastern Russia.

"Having been assigned to Russia's airborne brigade or marine corps, some are undergoing training in tactics and drone response, while others are assessed to have participated in combat," the agency said. 

The NIS informed lawmakers that some North Korean troops involved in combat might have sustained casualties, with efforts ongoing to investigate the circumstances and extent of the damage. 

Both Seoul and Washington had previously reported that North Korean forces, stationed in the Kursk region of Russia's western front, have begun engaging Ukrainian forces, despite concerns that their involvement could escalate the conflict and affect security in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific. The NIS also confirmed that North Korea has been exporting long-range artillery to Russia, including 170 mm self-propelled howitzers and 240 mm multiple rocket launchers. Previously, it had been reported that North Korea had sent artillery shells and short-range ballistic missiles to Russia. 

The spy agency indicated that North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui may have engaged in a "very important and sensitive" discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin during her early November visit to Russia, suggesting that their meeting might not have been purely a courtesy call. Choe unexpectedly met with Putin on November 4, a meeting that highlighted the growing ties between the two nations, particularly in light of North Korea's troop deployment to Russia to participate in the conflict in Ukraine. The NIS also raised the possibility that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could visit Russia.

When rumors first surfaced in October about North Korean troops preparing to support Russia's war in Ukraine, it was unclear what specific role they would play. Their limited battlefield experience was cited as a key reason they might be assigned to non-combat positions. 

However, after both the US and Ukraine confirmed that North Korean soldiers have already been involved in combat against Ukrainian forces, their role in the conflict is now being reassessed.

North Korea may have one of the largest militaries in the world, with 1.28 million active soldiers, but unlike Russia's armed forces, the Korean People's Army (KPA) lacks recent combat experience. 

Mark Cancian from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) believes that Pyongyang’s military is “thoroughly indoctrinated but with low readiness.” However, he cautions against viewing these troops as mere cannon fodder, stating that such an assessment is “Ukrainian bravado.”

Both Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence services have reported that many of the North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia are from some of Pyongyang’s elite units, including the 11th Corps, also known as the Storm Corps. This unit specializes in infiltration, sabotage, and assassination. 

Michael Madden, a North Korea expert at the Stimson Center in Washington, explains that these soldiers are “trained to withstand a high degree of physical pain and psychological torture.” He adds, “What they lack in combat they make up for with what they can tolerate physically and mentally.”

Cancian concurs, stating that “if these are special operations forces, they will be much better prepared than the average North Korean unit.” He also notes, “Further, the Russians appear to be giving them additional training, likely on the special circumstances of the war in Ukraine.”

By Naila Huseynova