(WE) — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the international community, North Korea and Russia have officially confirmed, for the first time, the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Analysts interpret this announcement not merely as a reflection of the battlefield situation, but as a calculated political signal that underscores an intent to deepen military cooperation far beyond the current conflict.
The announcement comes just days before Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9, carrying both symbolic and practical implications. Experts suggest that Pyongyang is seeking to solidify strategic ties with Moscow, while also gaining leverage regarding the fate of North Korean captives held in Ukraine.
North Korea’s State Media Hails Troop Deployment
On Monday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the official state media outlet of North Korea, broke the news by lauding its troops fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region. The report characterized the soldiers as “heroes” engaged in what it described as “operations to repel Ukraine’s invasion of Russian territory.”
“The operations for liberating the Kursk area to repel the adventurous invasion of the Russian Federation by the Ukrainian authorities were victoriously concluded,” KCNA reported. It quoted the Central Military Commission, noting that the military operations were executed under the direct order of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
A few hours following North Korea’s public acknowledgment, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude towards Pyongyang, reinforcing the notion of a budding alliance.
“Our North Korean friends’ move was guided by a sense of solidarity, justice, and genuine camaraderie,” Putin stated in a message published on the Kremlin website. “We highly appreciate this and are sincerely grateful, personally to the Chairman of the State Affairs Committee, Comrade Kim Jong-un, as well as to the entire leadership and the people of North Korea.”
Russia’s First Public Admission of North Korean Troop Involvement
Russia’s acknowledgment had actually come two days earlier, on Saturday, when Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, briefed President Putin during a video conference. In his report, Gerasimov praised the contributions of North Korean servicemen to Russian combat operations and emphasized that the deployment aligns with the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed by Russia and North Korea in June 2024.
This treaty marked a significant milestone, elevating the bilateral relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang to new strategic heights.
A photo posted by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his X account on January 13 showed a captured North Korean soldier in Ukraine. This visual evidence, initially dismissed by both Russia and North Korea, has now been retroactively legitimized by the recent admissions.
Analysts See Strategic Calculations Behind the Timing
Speaking to The Korean Media, several experts highlighted the timing of these coordinated announcements as no accident. Six months earlier, South Korean intelligence agencies had raised alarms about the suspected presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine. Now, as peace talks inch forward in the third year of the war, the formal acknowledgment suggests a calculated move by both Moscow and Pyongyang.
“As peace negotiations progress, North Korea may have requested that Russia officially confirm the troop deployment to solidify a military partnership that extends beyond the Ukraine war,” said Yang Moo-jin, President of the University of North Korean Studies. “Both countries seem to believe that the benefits of formal acknowledgment outweigh the potential costs.”
Yang added that North Korea’s leadership appears confident that internal dissent over the deployment will be negligible. The regime has reportedly employed a mix of intensive propaganda and tangible rewards — including financial compensation and social privileges — for the families of fallen soldiers to maintain domestic support.
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A ‘Win-Win’ for Pyongyang and Moscow
Doo Jin-ho, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, described the development as a “win-win” situation for both Russia and North Korea.
“Russia views North Korean troops as a crucial resource in a drawn-out conflict where manpower is becoming a critical factor,” Doo explained. “Meanwhile, North Korea elevates its strategic standing among Russia’s allies, increasing its bargaining power on the global stage.”
Doo also noted that by publicly confirming the deployment, Moscow and Pyongyang are seeking to preemptively neutralize potential fallout from revelations about North Korean prisoners of war (POWs) captured in Ukraine. South Korean and Ukrainian officials have been in talks about the transfer of two captured North Koreans apprehended in Kursk in January. However, questions surrounding their POW status had complicated the negotiations, since neither North Korea nor Russia had, until now, acknowledged that North Korean troops were operating in the conflict zone.
By making the deployment public, North Korea and Russia aim to deny Ukraine any further leverage on the issue and to prevent the potential transfer of North Korean POWs to South Korea.
Speculation Around Kim Jong-un’s Possible Visit to Russia
The joint announcement has fueled speculation that Kim Jong-un might travel to Moscow to attend Russia’s highly symbolic Victory Day parade on May 9. However, most experts believe that an imminent visit by the North Korean leader remains unlikely.
“Given the strength of the current ties between North Korea and Russia, there is little need for Kim’s physical presence at Victory Day,” said Doo Jin-ho. “Their alliance has already been sufficiently solidified.”
Instead, analysts suggest that Kim might choose to visit Russia in June to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty. Such a bilateral summit with Putin would carry more diplomatic weight and would better serve both leaders’ domestic and international agendas.
South Korea’s Strong Condemnation
The South Korean government wasted no time in condemning Pyongyang’s admission, framing it as a flagrant violation of international law.
“North Korean troops’ participation in the war in Ukraine is a clear violation of the United Nations Charter and U.N. Security Council resolutions,” said Jeon Ha-kyou, a spokesperson for South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense, during a press briefing. “By officially acknowledging this deployment, North Korea has effectively confessed to committing a criminal act.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs echoed this stance, accusing Pyongyang of mocking the international community and promising decisive action to counter the security threats posed by the deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia.
Seoul also emphasized that it would work closely with allies, particularly the United States and Japan, to bring additional diplomatic and economic pressure to bear on both Pyongyang and Moscow.
Global Implications and Future Prospects
The confirmation of North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine has global ramifications that go well beyond the battlefield. Analysts warn that this development could trigger a dangerous new phase in international relations, where countries increasingly rely on unconventional alliances to pursue geopolitical goals.
“The acknowledgment marks a historic moment,” said Yang Moo-jin. “It signals the possibility of an entrenched North Korea–Russia military alliance, similar in some ways to the Cold War-era alignments, but operating in a much more volatile and fragmented international order.”
The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene in an emergency session to discuss potential responses, though any meaningful action could be blocked by Russia’s veto power as a permanent member.
Meanwhile, the United States and European nations are likely to impose additional sanctions on North Korean entities involved in military cooperation with Russia. However, with North Korea already heavily sanctioned and Russia increasingly isolated from Western economies, the effectiveness of such measures remains uncertain.
Experts are also closely watching China’s reaction. Though China has traditionally served as North Korea’s primary ally and economic lifeline, Beijing has been cautious about direct military involvement in Ukraine. A strengthening North Korea–Russia axis could complicate China’s strategic calculations, especially as it seeks to maintain stable relations with Europe.
Escalating Tensions
North Korea’s official confirmation of its troop deployment to Russia represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The move underscores the strengthening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow and has prompted strong reactions from South Korea, the United States, and other members of the international community. As the situation develops, the focus will likely shift to diplomatic efforts aimed at addressing the implications of this deepening military cooperation and its potential impact on regional and global security.
