North Korea Triples Combat Role in Ukraine, Escalating Alliance With Moscow

North Korea, as of Wednesday, July 2, 2025, is reportedly preparing to triple the number of its soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, with as many as 30,000 troops poised to deploy in the coming months.

This escalation, revealed in an intelligence assessment from Ukraine’s defense officials and seen by CNN, marks a dramatic deepening of Pyongyang’s involvement in Moscow’s war.

The deployment would build on North Korea’s initial contingent of 11,000 soldiers, quietly sent to Russia in late 2024.

That force is believed to have played a key role in repelling Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region in western Russia.

Ukrainian and Western intelligence estimate that around 4,000 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded during that mission.

Despite the losses, Pyongyang’s military alliance with Moscow has since strengthened.

North Korean Troops Could Be Deployed in Combat Zones

According to the Ukrainian intelligence report, Russia is expected to fully equip and integrate North Korean forces into its regular combat units.

The troops may be used in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine, possibly taking part in future large-scale offensives.

Satellite imagery shows that preparations are already underway.

Cargo planes, likely used for troop movement, have been spotted at North Korea’s Sunan Airport.

On the other hand, Ropucha-class Russian ships, capable of transporting hundreds of troops, have docked multiple times at the Dunai port near Nakhodka in Russia’s Far East.

These routes are consistent with those used in the previous troop transfer last year.

Intelligence analysts believe Russian military aircraft are also being modified to transport personnel.

This suggests a major logistical operation is in progress to move thousands of foreign soldiers across the vast stretch of Siberia to the front lines.

Doubts About Troop Quality, But Not About Scale

Jenny Town, director of the Korea Program at the Stimson Centre, noted that while the number of North Korean troops cited, up to 30,000, may seem high, it’s not beyond North Korea’s capacity.

“They won’t be elite forces,” she said, but added that even staggered deployments of 10,000 to 20,000 soldiers could significantly bolster Russian ranks.

There are also reports that Russian generals have been involved in training North Korean troops inside North Korea, further indicating a deepening military collaboration.

Ukraine’s Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, warned that Kim Jong Un is taking a major risk by exposing so many soldiers to the high-risk battlefield. “

Russia’s use of North Korean troops highlights both its reliance on authoritarian allies and its struggles with troop mobilization,” Umerov said.

Russia Prepares for Major Offensive, With DPRK Help

Ukraine’s top general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Friday that Russia is massing over 110,000 troops near the embattled town of Pokrovsk, potentially preparing for a new offensive.

Any influx of North Korean fighters could tip the balance on this critical front.

Further evidence of growing ties emerged with a recent visit by former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to Pyongyang.

During the trip, Shoigu confirmed that 1,000 North Korean engineers and 5,000 military construction workers would be sent to Russia to help clear mines and rebuild damaged infrastructure in the Kursk region.

South Korea’s intelligence agency has also briefed lawmakers that more North Korean troops could deploy as early as July or August, although it remains uncertain whether Seoul agrees with Ukraine’s upper-end estimate of 30,000 personnel.

Videos Suggest Greater Integration with Russian Forces

Videos published by Russian media and verified by independent analysts show North Korean soldiers:

• living in dugout shelters,
• training with Russian instructors, and even,
• participating in joint combat drills.

Previously deployed DPRK units operated separately from Russian troops due to language barriers.

However, new footage suggests greater integration, including the use of translated Russian military manuals.

In one clip, a Russian trainer praises the physical condition and discipline of North Korean recruits, describing them as “no worse” than Russian troops.

Posters bearing slogans like “Revenge for Our Fallen Comrades” can be seen in their bunk areas—symbols of rising morale and commitment.

North Korean Arms and Artillery Widely Used

North Korea’s contributions aren’t limited to manpower.

According to a recent joint report by 11 UN member states, Pyongyang shipped over 100 ballistic missiles and 9 million artillery shells to Russia in 2024 alone.

Ukrainian intelligence also detailed 82 strikes involving North Korean KN-23 and KN-24 missiles, including one that killed 11 civilians in Pokrovsk in January 2024.

CNN obtained training manuals for North Korean artillery systems, translated into Russian, further proof of the deepening interoperability between the two militaries.

What’s at Stake for Pyongyang?

Experts say that Kim Jong Un’s long-term strategy may involve building leverage over Moscow by investing heavily in the conflict now.

“The more ‘blood debt’ between them, the more North Korea stands to gain,” said Town.

Even if the short-term costs are high, the alliance could provide Pyongyang with political, economic, and military benefits in the years ahead.

As Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on, North Korea’s escalating involvement marks a new chapter in the global dimensions of the conflict, one where authoritarian regimes are forming a united front with lasting consequences.

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