North Korea publicly confirmed on Monday that it had sent troops to Russia to help Moscow’s work to reclaim the Kursk area, marking Pyongyang’s second significant issue since the Korean War.
The implementation was carried out in accordance with a statement from the North Korean Central Military Commission, which was obtained by state media. Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea, and Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, signed a mutual defense agreement in June 2024.
According to AP news agency, Kim claimed that the decision was taken to “annihilate and clean out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers and conquer the Kursk region in cooperation with the Soviet military causes.” With plans underway to create a statue in Pyongyang to honor the fallen men, he continued,” They who fought for righteousness are all champions and members of the motherland.”
North Korean intelligence previously estimated that Pyongyang dispatched between 10,000 and 12 000 army last year, with about 4, 000 reported dead or wounded, despite North Korea’s refusal to disclose the actual number of troops sent or deaths suffered.
Additionally, according to South Korea’s defense, about 3, 000 more North Korean soldiers were dispatched earlier this year.
Russian chief of staff Valery Gerasimov informed President Putin on Saturday that Russian troops had completely reclaimed the area despite Ukrainian forces also asserting their presence in some Kursk areas. The North Koreans were praised by Gerasimov for their “high expertise, courage, confidence, and heroism in fight.”
However, the general staff of Ukraine refuted these statements, saying that Kursk-based defensive activities would continue. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy even stated on Sunday that Ukrainian troops were “maintaining our appearance on Russian territory,” according to AFP news agency.
Experts think North Korea’s open acknowledgment was already agreed upon by Russia. According to a Reuters citation, Pyongyang probably considered the advantages of Russian compensation to the possible harm to its international reputation.
However, diplomatic efforts to put an end to the ongoing conflict are growing. During their appointment in Vatican City over the weekend, US Presidents Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump discussed a potential peace. Trump later expressed doubts about Putin’s commitment to end the conflict, saying he had previously backed facilitating serenity.
Washington and Seoul are concerned about North Korea’s growing ties to Russia. Moscow is concerned about boosting Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program by providing it with cutting-edge military systems. Additionally, North Korea’s broad arms supply to Russia has been a source of concern for both the South Korean and Western intelligence services.
