Ukraine conflict escalates: 10,000 North Korean troops mobilized in Russia

Approximately 10,000 North Korean servicemen have been stationed in Russia, with a significant number sent to frontline areas.

This information was disclosed by South Korea's defence ministry on November 5, Caliber.Az reports citing South Korean media outlet Yonhap.

The assessment comes amid concerns that North Korean troops may join Russian forces in the near future to fight near Kursk, located on Russia's western border. "More than 10,000 North Korean troops have now been sent to Russia, and we understand that a significant number of them have moved to frontline areas, including Kursk," said ministry spokesman Jeon Ha-kyou during a news conference.

Jeong added that while there was no new information regarding North Korean troop activity, South Korea's military and intelligence agencies are closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine.

The potential involvement of 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops to support the Russian army in the Kursk region could play a significant role in Moscow's attempts to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) out of the area. Major General Patrick Ryder, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, stated, "The response of the Russian military and political leadership to the beginning of the Kursk operation of the Ukrainian army in the first days of the offensive was very confusing in terms of attempts to dislodge the AFU from the region."

He elaborated, "For the most part, they (Russian troops) were not able to push the Ukrainians back far. They regained some additional territory, but nothing that we would categorize as significant." Ryder noted that the deployment of "these additional 10,000-11,000-12,000 (North Korean) forces" in the Kursk region "could be significant in terms of combat capability."

However, he emphasized that much will depend on "how these forces will be used, how they are integrated into Russian command and control." Ryder remarked that the battle-hardened AFU soldiers are likely to continue their operations in the Kursk region, including retaining the territory they have taken control of.

When asked by the media whether the introduction of at least 10,000 DPRK troops would significantly impact Russia's counter-offensive operations, Ryder urged caution regarding "numbers that can be misleading." He pointed to Ukraine's success against a much larger Russian army in 2022 as an example, stating, "Look at what Ukraine did when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and how there was a small number of forces capable of largely defeating the strategic objectives of what was and is the largest army in Europe."

Ryder concluded by stating that much will depend on how the Russian Federation decides to use this North Korean contingent and "how well integrated they are, what kind of combat experience they have." He added, "In the meantime, we continue to consult very closely with our allies and partners."

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his discontent with the West, accusing it of a muted response to the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops, marking a significant escalation in the war.

By Tamilla Hasanova