The United States has announced for the first time that it has evidence of North Korean military personnel present in Russia, with South Korean lawmakers reporting that approximately 3,000 North Korean troops have already been deployed. The deployment appears to support Russia's ongoing military operations in Ukraine, and more troops are anticipated to follow.
During a press conference in Rome, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated, "There is evidence that there are DPRK troops in Russia," using the formal name for North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He emphasized that if North Korean forces were indeed being prepared to fight in Ukraine, it would be "very, very serious." However, Austin noted that the exact role of these troops remains unclear.
In Seoul, South Korean intelligence sources revealed that North Korea had initially committed to sending a total of 10,000 troops, with full deployment expected by December. This update comes after South Korea's National Intelligence Service briefed lawmakers, indicating that North Korea’s forces had been undergoing training in September and October. According to Park Sun-won, a member of the parliamentary intelligence committee, the troops are now stationed in multiple training facilities across Russia.
The Kremlin has dismissed Seoul's assertions as "fake news," and North Korean officials at the United Nations have labeled the reports as "groundless rumors." Despite these denials, both Russia and North Korea have strengthened military ties, signing a mutual defense treaty in June and expressing intentions to deepen their cooperation.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has also voiced concerns, alleging that North Korea is planning to send 10,000 troops to support Russia's military efforts. He called on international allies to respond to the mounting evidence of North Korea's involvement.
In an effort to control the narrative, North Korean authorities are reportedly relocating and isolating the families of deployed soldiers. South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun disclosed that Pyongyang is attempting to keep the deployment secret to prevent rumors from spreading domestically.
South Korea's intelligence also highlighted that Russian instructors are training North Korean troops on modern warfare tactics, including drone operations, and have recruited interpreters to aid communication. However, it was noted that while North Korean soldiers display high physical and morale standards, they lack experience in advanced combat scenarios, which could lead to significant casualties on the battlefield.
In response to the reports, South Korea’s presidential office urged the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops, hinting at the possibility of supplying lethal aid to Ukraine if the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea escalates. Germany also expressed concern, summoning North Korea's charge d'affaires to address the implications of this potential deployment, which it described as a violation of international law.
Meanwhile, the South Korean intelligence agency, collaborating with Ukrainian counterparts, has utilized facial recognition technology to identify North Korean officers in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, actively assisting Russian forces.
The involvement of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine could signal deeper challenges for Russia’s military, which has reportedly faced over 600,000 casualties since the beginning of the conflict in February 2022. Defense Secretary Austin suggested that North Korea’s assistance might highlight Russia's struggle with manpower shortages, adding, "This is an indication that [Putin] may be in more trouble than most people realize."
As the situation develops, both regional and international actors are closely monitoring the unfolding dynamics, aware that North Korea's growing involvement in Ukraine could have far-reaching consequences for global security and diplomatic relations.