North Korean Troops Engage Ukrainian Forces for the First Time in Russia: Report

North Korean troops have reportedly engaged Ukrainian forces for the first time in the Kursk region of Russia.

A Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council member revealed this to Forces News on Monday. This development follows reports from South Korean military intelligence that North Korea dispatched an advance unit to the Kursk region to bolster Russia's defenses in response to Ukraine's cross-border activities.

Last month, reports confirmed that North Korea had sent approximately 12,000 troops, including 500 officers and three generals, to Russia. These reinforcements reportedly arrived at training facilities in Russia's Far East. Satellite imagery showed large concentrations of North Korean soldiers at these bases, with social media footage depicting them receiving Russian military uniforms.

South Korean intelligence recently detailed those 1,500 North Korean special forces operatives arrived in Moscow in October, signaling a significant increase in Pyongyang's involvement in Russia’s military efforts against Ukraine.

Ukraine initiated a cross-border attack into Russia's Kursk Oblast in August, temporarily seizing about 500 square miles of Russian territory. Although the objective was to divert Russian military focus from the eastern front lines, this incursion largely failed to achieve its intended impact, with Russian forces continuing their eastern advances. In response to Ukraine’s offensive, Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly requested Pyongyang’s assistance in securing Kursk, asking North Korea to contribute troops to fortify defenses in the region while Russia’s battle-hardened divisions maintained focus on the eastern front.

North Korea’s involvement in the conflict marks a notable intensification of its support for Moscow. However, it remains uncertain if North Korean troops can influence the broader trajectory of the war. The additional manpower could relieve some pressure on Russian forces, though the implications for the conflict’s outcome are unclear.

Amid these developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has renewed calls for increased support from the U.S., the U.K., and other allies. Zelensky has specifically requested authorization for Ukraine to deploy Western long-range missiles, which could enable Kyiv to strike camps housing North Korean soldiers inside Russia. According to Zelensky, access to these long-range capabilities would allow Ukrainian forces to target all known locations of North Korean personnel stationed in Russia, potentially disrupting Pyongyang's support of Moscow.

U.S. Warns North Korean Troops in Russia Could Become Legitimate Targets if Deployed Against Ukraine

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported last week, based on U.S. intelligence, that around 8,000 of the 10,000 North Korean troops believed to be in Russia have reached the Kursk border region. "We've not yet seen these troops engage against Ukrainian forces, but we expect that soon," Blinken stated after talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and South Korean officials.

Blinken added that Russia has been training these troops in artillery, drones, and trench-clearing, "suggesting intent to use them on the front lines."

He warned, "If these troops engage in combat against Ukraine, they would be legitimate military targets."

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun also estimated that North Korea has sent over 1,000 missiles and millions of munitions to Russia, aiming to raise funds.