Ukrainian outlets, including Kyiv Post and Liga.net, reported on October 15 that Russia is forming a battalion-sized unit with around 3,000 North Korean soldiers. Citing Ukrainian military sources, the reports state that the new unit, known as the “Buryat Special Battalion,” is being integrated into Russia’s 11th Airborne Assault Brigade.
The battalion is reportedly receiving small arms and ammunition, with deployment possibly planned for Kursk Oblast, a Russian region that was attacked by Ukrainian forces in August, according to Liga.net.
A Ukrainian Defense Intelligence (HUR) source told Kyiv Post that North Korea’s involvement extends beyond supplying weapons and equipment, suggesting that Pyongyang is also supporting Moscow’s manpower shortages with large-scale troop deployments.
Kyiv Independent reported, citing Western diplomats, that North Korea has already sent 10,000 soldiers to Russia, though the precise role of these troops remains unclear.
There have also been reports of desertions among North Korean troops deployed in Russia. According to Ukrainska Pravda, 18 North Korean soldiers abandoned their unit near the border of Kursk and Bryansk Oblasts, approximately seven kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The media outlet added that while Russian forces have launched search operations, they are attempting to suppress news of the desertions from higher command.
Speculation about North Korean troop deployments gained traction earlier this month following reports that North Korean soldiers were killed in combat on the eastern front. On October 3, Ukrainian media reported that six North Korean soldiers were among 20 Russian casualties killed by Ukrainian missile strikes on the Donetsk front.
Kyiv Post noted that these North Korean personnel may have been sent to Russia to oversee the quality of ammunition and supplies provided by Pyongyang.
Meanwhile, the U.S. government expressed concern over North Korea’s military cooperation with Russia.
“We are concerned by the reports of DPRK [North Korean] soldiers fighting on behalf of Russia,” said Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, during the briefing on October 15.
“If that’s true, it would mark a significant increase in the relationship between those two countries, the relationship that you have seen developed over the past several months. It would also indicate a new level of desperation by Russia as it continues to suffer significant casualties on the battlefield.”
South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun commented on the situation during a parliamentary audit on October 8, stating, “Given the close military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, which now resembles a quasi-alliance, the possibility of troop deployments is extremely high.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky further fueled the speculation, publicly asserting on October 13 and 14 that North Korean troops have indeed been deployed to the battlefield.
However, Russian officials have dismissed these reports as “fake news.” They have denied the presence of North Korean soldiers on Russian soil, insisting that such claims are part of a disinformation campaign by Ukraine and its allies.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
