Camilla Jessen
Up to 30,000 North Korean troops could soon join Russian forces on the front lines.
North Korea is preparing to send between 25,000 and 30,000 more soldiers to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian intelligence shared with CNN.
This would nearly triple the number of North Korean troops already involved.
In November 2024, North Korea secretly sent 11,000 soldiers to help stop a Ukrainian push into Russia’s Kursk region. Ukrainian officials say around 4,000 of those troops have been killed or injured.
Despite that, cooperation between the two countries is growing.
Russia to Arm the New Troops
The Ukrainian report says Russia’s army is ready to supply weapons, gear, and ammunition to the North Korean troops and include them directly in Russian fighting units.
Western intelligence sources confirmed they had seen similar plans.
Satellite images show signs of preparation, such as military planes at Sunan airport in North Korea and troop ships docking at Russian ports near Nakhodka.
These ships can carry hundreds of soldiers at once.
High Risks for North Korea
Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov warned that North Korea’s decision could backfire.
“Kim Jong Un is risking the lives of his elite soldiers, and it could bring trouble back home,” he said.
Umerov also said Russia’s need for help from foreign troops shows it is having trouble getting enough of its own soldiers.
“This is a sign of Russia’s problems,” he added. “We and our partners are keeping a close watch.”
Bigger military plans underway
Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Sirskii, said on Friday that Russia is building up 110,000 troops near the important city of Pokrovsk, possibly for a new attack.
At the same time, top Russian official Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea twice in June.
During his last trip, he said that 1,000 North Korean engineers and 5,000 military workers would help rebuild damaged areas in Russia’s Kursk region.
Ukraine also confirmed 82 missile attacks using North Korean weapons, including one in January that killed 11 civilians in Pokrovsk.
These attacks continued in early 2025.
