North Korea Deploys 3,000 Troops to Russia: South Korea

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff reported on Thursday that, in addition to sending troops, North Korea has been supplying Russia with missiles, artillery, and ammunition, and may increase these shipments depending on the course of the conflict. Despite a recent limited ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine, both countries have accused each other of breaching it.

North Korean Military Supplies to Russia

The military supplies North Korea has sent to Russia include substantial quantities of short-range ballistic missiles, 170mm self-propelled howitzers, and around 220 units of 240mm multiple rocket launchers. In total, North Korea has deployed approximately 11,000 troops to Ukraine, marking its first large-scale military involvement since the Korean War (1950–53). According to the Joint Chiefs, about 4,000 of these troops have been killed or injured.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has attributed the high casualty rate to the North Korean forces’ difficulty adapting to modern warfare tactics, such as drone usage. Additionally, Russian commanders' reliance on outdated military strategies, including sending North Korean troops into battle without proper rear-fire support, has worsened their losses.

North Korean Troops Gaining Battlefield Experience

Despite these challenges, Ukrainian military and intelligence officials believe North Korean troops have gained valuable battlefield experience. They have become integral to Russia’s strategy of overwhelming Ukrainian forces by deploying large numbers of soldiers, especially in the battle for Kursk.

The assessment follows a meeting in Pyongyang between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian security official Sergei Shoigu, where Kim reaffirmed his support for Russia’s war effort. Reports from state media indicate that Kim and Shoigu also reinforced their commitment to a mutual defense treaty signed last year. On Thursday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko confirmed that discussions were ongoing about a potential visit by Kim to Moscow, though no date had been set.

Kim Jong Un's Military Developments and Concerns Over Russian Technology

Kim’s military assistance to Russia has sparked concerns that North Korea could receive advanced Russian technology in return, potentially enhancing its nuclear capabilities. Experts believe aircraft and drones could be among the technologies North Korea seeks to acquire from Russia.

North Korean state media reported on Thursday that Kim had recently observed tests of newly developed reconnaissance and attack drones, which he ordered for mass production. Kim has increasingly emphasized drone development, and these tests highlight North Korea’s advancing military capabilities.

Photographs released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) showed Kim inspecting a large reconnaissance drone resembling the U.S.-made RQ-4B Global Hawk, which was first showcased during a military exhibition in 2023. Other images depicted Kim inside an airborne early warning aircraft, possibly modified with Russian components, although South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff noted the aircraft’s operational effectiveness remains uncertain.

KCNA claimed the reconnaissance drone successfully demonstrated its ability to track multiple targets and monitor troop movements both on land and at sea, enhancing North Korea’s intelligence-gathering capabilities. The report also highlighted the newly developed explosive drones, designed for a variety of attack missions and featuring unspecified artificial intelligence technology.

Kim expressed satisfaction with the drones' performance, stressing the importance of prioritizing drones and artificial intelligence in modernizing North Korea’s armed forces.

South Korean Response to North Korean Developments

Regarding the early warning aircraft, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson, Lee Sung Joon, suggested that North Korea had likely modified an existing plane for this purpose, possibly incorporating Russian components. However, Lee noted that the aircraft’s operational effectiveness remains unproven, stating that it appeared cumbersome and likely vulnerable to interception.

As North Korea continues its military support for Russia, the situation in Ukraine and the broader geopolitical implications of this alliance remain a point of concern for international observers.