North Korea may send more troops to Russia for Ukraine war, ISW warns
Illustrative photo: North Korea may send additional troops to Russia for the war in Ukraine (Getty Images)
North Korea could potentially deploy its troops in Ukraine as early as July or August 2025. According to a report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), such a scenario could significantly increase Russia's offensive capabilities on several fronts.
The report indicates that there are signs of strengthening Russian troops by involving units from North Korea in the Kursk region. The DPRK also continues to supply Russia with artillery ammunition and ballistic missiles, which may indicate preparations for further offensive actions on the Ukrainian front.
The report suggests that North Korean personnel are likely to operate directly on the territory of Ukraine, as the Ukrainian presence in Russia's border areas (in particular, in the Kursk region) is limited.
Analysts point out that the agreement of the North Korean and Russian military commanders to deploy DPRK troops in Ukraine could be a significant turning point in the war, as such a step could enhance the ability of Russian troops to conduct simultaneous offensives on several fronts, which they have not been able to achieve before.
“ISW previously assessed that Russian forces compensated by conducting pulsing, more contained, offensive operations along different sectors of the frontline, but recent reporting indicates that Russian forces appear to be gradually advancing in at least three simultaneous large-scale offensive operations in the Borova-Lyman, Kostyantynivka, and Novopavlivka directions,” the analysts say.
But it is difficult to assess the real impact of the North Korean military's participation due to the lack of accurate data on their number, level of training, and ability to interact with Russian units.
South Korean intelligence believes that Russia may be preparing for a large-scale offensive in Ukraine in July or August 2025.
DPRK's participation in the war
North Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to Russia to support it in its war against Ukraine. Approximately half of this contingent was killed or wounded during the fighting in the Kursk region.
After a long period of silence, both the DPRK and Russia confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops and their participation in the Russian offensive aimed at regaining control over part of the Kursk region.
Both countries stated that the cooperation is based on the treaty signed by their leaders last June, which includes a mutual defense pact.
