DPRK troops fought in Ukraine to support Russia, DPRK confirms
3 Min Read
The DPRK confirms deploying troops to Ukraine, aiding Russia in retaking Kursk and showcasing a deepening military alliance with Moscow.
-
A TV screen shows an image of DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang, during a news program, in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, April 28, 2025. (AP)
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has officially confirmed for the first time that it has deployed troops to Ukraine to fight alongside Russian forces, under direct orders from leader Kim Jong Un.
The DPRK claimed its forces helped Russia regain control of the Kursk region, which had previously been occupied by Ukrainian forces.
According to the state-run KCNA news agency, the Central Military Commission of the DPRK's Workers' Party hailed the victory in the Kursk region as evidence of the "highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship" between the DPRK and Russia.
The commission stated that Kim Jong Un decided to send troops in line with the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin last year. Under Kim’s orders, DPRK military units reportedly fought with the same courage they would have shown in defense of their homeland.
“They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honour of the motherland,” Kim Jong Un was quoted as saying by KCNA. The report added that the DPRK considered it an honor to maintain an alliance with a "powerful state like the Russian Federation."
Analysts see confirmation as a diplomatic signal
Observers believe the timing of the DPRK’s announcement, following over six months of silence, was a deliberate move to highlight Kim Jong Un’s alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The focus on the sacrifice of DPRK troops, “at the cost of blood,” was seen as an effort to showcase the relationship as one of equal partners.
Hong Min, an analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, told Reuters that the confirmation was likely a prelude to an upcoming summit between the two leaders in Russia, aimed at publicly reinforcing their alliance.
Ukrainian officials estimate that the DPRK deployed around 14,000 troops, including 3,000 reinforcements to replace casualties. Despite initial heavy losses due to limited armored vehicles and drone warfare experience, DPRK forces reportedly adapted swiftly to battlefield conditions. Additionally, South Korean authorities confirmed that the DPRK provided Russia with artillery shells and ballistic missiles.
The US State Department condemned the deployment and any support exchanged, asserting that Russia violated UN Security Council resolutions by involving DPRK troops. A spokesperson said the DPRK’s actions contributed to prolonging the conflict, adding that countries enabling Russia's war in Ukraine must be held accountable.
South Korea labeled the deployment as a “criminal act,” calling it “inhumane and immoral” to send young North Koreans to war to sustain the regime’s alliance with Moscow.
Russia officially acknowledged DPRK troops' involvement for the first time on Saturday, confirming their participation in combat operations in the Kursk region.
