In a major development, North Korea has officially confirmed for the first time that it deployed troops to Russia to assist in military operations against Ukraine.
State news agency KCNA reported on Monday that North Korean soldiers were involved in helping Moscow reclaim territory in Russia’s border region of Kursk, previously under Ukrainian control.
This confirmation comes shortly after Russia acknowledged the involvement of North Korean forces. For months, South Korean and Western intelligence agencies had reported that Pyongyang had sent over 10,000 soldiers to support Russian efforts in the conflict, with deployments dating back to last year.
According to the KCNA report, North Korea’s Central Military Commission stated that “sub-units of our armed forces” participated in the operations “for liberating the Kursk areas,” following orders from Kim Jong Un. The North Korean leader emphasized that the deployment was made under a mutual defense treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow.
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Praising the soldiers, Kim Jong Un called them “heroes” and “representatives of the honor of the motherland,” highlighting their role in what he termed a fight “for justice.”
He also revealed plans to build a monument in Pyongyang to commemorate their “battle feats” and confirmed that North Korean troops had suffered casualties during the operations.
Kim stated that the country must “take important national measures to specially honor and care for the families of war veterans,” signaling state support for the fallen soldiers’ families.
The Central Military Commission further stated that the operations in Kursk were aimed at “repelling the adventurous invasion of the Russian Federation by the Ukrainian authorities” and claimed the mission had been “victoriously concluded.”
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Over the weekend, Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov praised the North Korean forces, commending their “heroism” and noting that they had “provided significant assistance in defeating the Ukrainian armed forces.”
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Ministry of Defense responded sharply on Monday, criticizing North Korea’s actions. During a regular press briefing, a ministry spokesperson stated that Pyongyang’s troop deployment to Russia was a violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. “By officially acknowledging it, North Korea has admitted to its own criminal acts,” the spokesperson said.
The admission marks a significant escalation in North Korea’s international military involvement and is likely to deepen tensions with South Korea, the United States, and other Western powers. It also raises questions about the future trajectory of the Russia-North Korea alliance, particularly as geopolitical fault lines harden amid ongoing global conflicts.
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