South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) announced that North Korea has reportedly dispatched troops to support Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine. This development, if confirmed, would mark North Korea’s first significant involvement in a foreign conflict since the Korean War (1950-1953). The announcement follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s claims that North Korea is preparing 10,000 troops to join Russian forces.
According to the NIS, Russian naval vessels transported around 1,500 North Korean special operations forces to Vladivostok between October 8 and October 13. These troops have reportedly been given Russian military uniforms, weapons, and forged identification documents, and are currently undergoing training at military bases in Vladivostok and surrounding areas. The NIS also provided satellite images purportedly showing military activity and troop gatherings in the region.
While South Korean media sources suggest North Korea plans to send a total of 12,000 troops organized into four brigades, the NIS has not confirmed these reports. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that NATO could not yet verify the involvement of North Korean soldiers in the conflict. Similarly, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder indicated the U.S. could not corroborate the reports of troop deployment.
Despite earlier denials from Russia regarding the use of North Korean troops in the conflict, cooperation between North Korea and Russia has deepened amid their mutual confrontations with the West. The U.S. and its allies have accused North Korea of supplying arms to Russia in exchange for economic and military support. This cooperation has heightened concerns over North Korea’s potential acquisition of advanced military technology.
Experts express skepticism about the effectiveness of North Korean troops in combat due to outdated equipment and a lack of battlefield experience. However, it is believed that North Korea may receive advanced military technologies in return for its support, which could complicate efforts by the U.S. and South Korea to address North Korea’s nuclear threats.
In response to the evolving situation, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol convened an emergency security meeting, with officials labeling North Korea’s troop dispatch as a “grave security threat” to both South Korea and the broader international community. Tensions have been escalating in the region, with North Korea ramping up missile tests and threatening nuclear action.
Earlier, President Zelenskyy warned that a third nation joining the conflict could escalate the war into a global confrontation. While there have been historical instances of North Korea sending military personnel to support allied nations, large-scale troop deployments for direct combat remain largely unprecedented since the Korean War.
