North Korea has redeployed thousands of troops to Ukraine’s frontlines amid staggering casualties, while refusing to accept the bodies of its fallen soldiers to prevent domestic unrest.
Quick Takes
- South Korean intelligence confirms North Korea has sent a second wave of troops to Ukraine’s Kursk region in early February 2025.
- Between 1,000-3,000 additional North Korean soldiers have been deployed, including mechanized infantry and specialized units.
- North Korea reportedly refuses to repatriate bodies of fallen soldiers, with some officials considering “ice burial” to eliminate evidence.
- The alliance could result in Russia providing North Korea with advanced weapons technology and economic assistance.
- Approximately 11,000 North Korean troops are now fighting alongside Russian forces, with Ukrainian estimates of 4,000 casualties.
North Korea Redeploys Forces to Russian Frontlines
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) has confirmed that North Korean troops have returned to Ukraine’s battlefields after a brief withdrawal. “Following about a monthlong lull, North Korean troops were placed back in the frontline region of Kursk starting in the first week of February. It appears that there has been a deployment of additional troops, but their size is still being examined,” the NIS stated. The redeployment marks an escalation in North Korea’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with the Korea JoongAng Ilbo reporting that “approximately 1,000 to 3,000 North Korean troops were newly deployed to the Kursk front on Russian cargo ships and military aircraft between January and February.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on February 7 that North Korean troops are fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region. The latest deployment includes specialized units such as mechanized infantry, engineering, and electronic reconnaissance teams. These reinforcements join what Ukraine claims are approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers already fighting on Russian soil, with Ukrainian officials estimating around 4,000 of these troops have been killed in action.
Grim Reports of Casualty Management
Perhaps most disturbing are reports that North Korea is refusing to accept the bodies of its fallen soldiers. “The Russian military has continuously requested the transfer of the bodies of North Korean soldiers killed in action, but this has not been accomplished due to North Korea’s refusal,” a source allegedly told JoongAng. This strategy appears designed to prevent domestic unrest within North Korea, as knowledge of significant military casualties could undermine regime stability and public support for the overseas deployment.
According to South Korean intelligence, North Korean officials are considering “ice burial” to eliminate evidence of the soldiers’ deaths. Meanwhile, North Korean state media continues to promote militaristic propaganda domestically, with recent reports of students volunteering for military service. Kim Jong-un’s recent visit to a military training academy emphasized the regime’s ongoing focus on military preparedness, potentially preparing the population for continuing deployments despite casualties.
Strategic Implications for Global Security
The deepening military alliance between North Korea and Russia raises significant concerns for international security. Analysts suggest that Russia may reward North Korea with high-tech weapons technologies that could enhance Pyongyang’s nuclear program. North Korea is also expected to receive substantial economic assistance from Moscow in exchange for its military support. These developments come as Russia engages in talks in Saudi Arabia with the U.S. administration to resolve the conflict, marking a shift in American foreign policy under President Trump.
The involvement of North Korean forces in Ukraine represents a significant escalation in the internationalization of the conflict, which began in 2014 with Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in Ukraine’s Donbas region. In 2022, Russia launched what it termed a “special operation,” leading to the annexation of four more Ukrainian regions. Neither Russia nor North Korea have officially confirmed the presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine, despite mounting evidence and assertions from multiple intelligence agencies and Ukrainian officials.
Sources:
- South Korea Says North Deployed Second Round of Troops to Ukraine War
- North Korea appears to have sent more troops to Russia to back its war against Ukraine, Seoul says
- North Korea sending more troops to fight for Russia, Seoul says
