Russia sends its soldiers to North Korea for 'medical treatment' to exchange military experience - ISW
Illustrative photo: Russia sends soldiers to North Korea to exchange experience under the guise of treatment (Getty Images)
Russia is reportedly sending military personnel to North Korea under the pretense of receiving medical treatment. However, Russian soldiers are actually exchanging military experience with the North Koreans, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.
ISW highlighted a statement from Russia's ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, who claimed that Russia had sent "hundreds" of wounded soldiers to North Korea for rehabilitation and treatment. He also stated that the country allegedly refused Russia's offer to provide financial compensation for the treatment of Russian soldiers.
"The Russian military command has reportedly been sending wounded personnel back into assault groups without treatment, demonstrating a general disregard for soldiers' health in the Russian military and calling into question official Russian claims to be sending Russian soldiers abroad for treatment, particularly to North Korea," the statement says.
The presence of experienced Russian military personnel in North Korea allows Russia to collaborate with the North Korean armed forces and disseminate combat experience gained during the war in Ukraine.
North Korean soldiers in Russia
At the end of 2024, Russia deployed North Korean troops to participate in combat operations in the Kursk region. According to Ukrainian military reports, North Korean soldiers attacked Ukrainian positions using mass assault tactics, which resulted in significant losses among the North Korean units.
As of mid-January 2025, South Korean intelligence reported that North Korean forces had ceased combat operations in the Kursk region due to heavy losses. However, Chief of Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that North Korean soldiers remained on the front line in the region, and the situation required further monitoring to assess real changes in their activity.
According to Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, North Korea seeks technological exchanges with Russia in return for deploying its soldiers. These technologies are reportedly related to missile, nuclear, and other military programs.
