North Korean Troops Reportedly Sent to Kursk in Escalating Ukraine Conflict.

The United States has reported that North Korean troops may have been deployed to assist Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine, raising international concerns over a third-party nation's entry into the conflict.

On October 23, the U.S. confirmed North Korea’s involvement, following similar claims from Ukraine and South Korea. However, the precise role North Korean forces may play remains uncertain.

U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated on Friday, “It is certainly possible, and perhaps even likely, that at least some of these North Korean troops could be deployed to the Kursk area.”

The region became a focal point on August 6 when Ukraine staged an incursion against Russian forces there. On the same day as Kirby’s remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concerns that North Korean troops could soon arrive in combat zones, emphasizing, “This is an obvious escalatory step by Russia,” and calling for a “principled and strong response” from world leaders.

Tetiana Hranchak, a professor at Syracuse University’s Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, noted, “North Korean troops in Ukraine would confirm that Russia’s war is not merely a regional conflict,” adding that it further aligns Russia with an anti-Western axis, which includes China, Iran, and now North Korea.

Reports from South Korean intelligence, cited by Bloomberg, suggest that as many as 10,000 North Korean soldiers are training in Vladivostok and may be sent to Ukraine after a month’s preparation. While the U.S. has not confirmed South Korean claims that these troops will enter combat, unnamed officials told The Wall Street Journal that thousands could be deployed.

Additionally, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans stated on social media that his country’s intelligence believes at least 1,500 North Korean troops are already stationed in the Kursk region. Although Ukraine’s defense intelligence noted the arrival of North Korean forces on October 23, an air assault brigade in the area reported seeing no signs of these troops and doubted their experience with advanced, large-scale warfare.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has not denied the deployment, stating that if satellite imagery exists, “they reflect something.” North Korea’s Foreign Ministry maintained that any troop deployment would adhere to international law but has not confirmed whether troops have been sent.