North Korean military engineers have been deployed to assist Russia in targeting Ukraine with ballistic missiles, and fighters from North Korea have already been killed in the conflict, according to senior officials from both Kyiv and Seoul.
Dozens of North Korean personnel are reportedly operating behind Russian lines, supporting launcher systems for KN-23 missiles.
North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, solidified ties with Vladimir Putin during a summit last year, which resulted in a secret arms deal. While Pyongyang‘s ammunition shipments were crucial for Russia’s military advances in eastern Ukraine, it now appears that their cooperation extends beyond providing weaponry.
Last week, North Koreans were among those killed by a Ukrainian missile strike in Russian-occupied territory near Donetsk, according to both South Korean and Ukrainian officials. The exact nature of their involvement, whether as engineers or other forces, remains unclear.
Though foreign mercenaries have fought for Russia, the presence of uniformed North Korean soldiers would mark the first instance of a foreign government sending official military personnel to support Russia in its war.
South Korea’s defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, told parliament this week that it was “highly likely” North Korean officers had been deployed alongside Russian forces, and several were killed in the attack, though he did not provide further specifics.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, confirmed via Telegram that North Koreans had been killed in Russia. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces reported destroying a depot containing North Korean ammunition in Russia’s Bryansk region, near the Ukrainian border.
For North Korea, this war provides a unique opportunity to test weapons, gain combat experience, and strengthen its relationship with Russia. According to Lim Eul-chul, a professor in Seoul, North Korean troops are likely being sent to gain battlefield experience and enhance their military skills.
While North Korean missiles and artillery shells are often regarded as unreliable, they have played a significant role in maintaining Russia’s relentless attacks on Ukraine. North Korea is estimated to have supplied over half of the large-caliber ammunition used on the front lines this year, contributing more than 2 million rounds.
The KN-23 missiles, which were first tested in 2019 and are similar to Russia’s Iskander-M missiles, have been used in multiple strikes across Ukraine, particularly last winter, and were redeployed starting in July.
Despite the public denial of weapons sales by both Moscow and Pyongyang, the two countries have openly celebrated their deepening ties. Kim recently described Putin as his “closest comrade,” while Putin visited North Korea in June to sign a mutual aid agreement.
In exchange for military supplies, North Korea is likely seeking Russian assistance with its struggling spy satellite program. However, it remains unclear how far Russia is willing to go in sharing sensitive military technologies.
As Pyongyang continues to strengthen its alliance with Russia and China against what it calls “Western hegemony,” this strategy has paid off in the UN Security Council, where Russia’s veto effectively ended monitoring of sanctions against North Korea, a move welcomed by the regime.
