U.S. defence secretary Lloyd Austin has confirmed that North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia. He made the announcement during a visit to Rome—while adding that the soldiers’ exact role remains unclear.
Expanding on these claims, the White House estimated that approximately 3,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to Russia, possibly with the intent to support Russian forces on the Ukrainian battlefield.
The troops, reportedly transported by ship to Vladivostok in mid-October, are now undergoing training at military sites in eastern Russia. While U.S. officials have not yet confirmed whether these soldiers will participate in combat, the possibility is described as “highly concerning” by National Security spokesperson John Kirby.
South Korea has also expressed alarm over the developments, with President Yoon Suk Yeol stating that his government “won’t sit idle” as North Korea sends more troops to Russia.
Seoul has warned that this deployment is a provocation that could destabilise global security and violates international law. South Korea’s intelligence services claim that North Korea plans to send a total of 10,000 soldiers by the end of the year, and officials are considering a range of responses, including the potential supply of weapons to Ukraine, marking a shift from their previous policy of providing only non-lethal aid.
This new development comes as Russia and North Korea strengthen ties. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a mutual defence pact, which on Thursday was ratified by Russia’s State Duma. The treaty, which pledges mutual military assistance, signifies an increasing level of cooperation between the two nations, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine.
However, the deployment of North Korean troops could indicate that Russia is facing difficulties in recruiting sufficient manpower for its war effort, especially following heavy casualties on both sides in what has become a war of attrition. The involvement of foreign troops, particularly from a state as isolated as North Korea, points to a potential weakening of Russia’s military capabilities. “This is an indication that [Putin] may be even in more trouble than most people realise,” Austin noted.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also expressed deep concern over the presence of North Korean troops. Kyiv has been circulating footage purportedly showing North Korean soldiers receiving Russian military equipment. Zelensky warned that this move could be the “first step to a world war” and called for increased international support in response.
Before the U.S. confirmation, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, had dismissed the idea of North Korean troops fighting for Russia as “rubbish.” However, he did acknowledge that if the deployment of North Korean soldiers were confirmed, it would escalate the conflict, potentially drawing other nations into the fray, stating in a BBC interview
Even if we got involved in the war this would be a path to escalation.
Lukashenko added that NATO troops might respond if another country formally joined Russia’s war effort.
While Moscow and Pyongyang have denied that North Korean soldiers are involved in the conflict, the evidence presented by U.S. and South Korean intelligence suggests otherwise. Analysts believe that Pyongyang might be looking to strengthen its relationship with Russia in exchange for economic support and technological transfers, particularly in the areas of missile and nuclear technology. This also raises additional concerns about the broader implications for security in the Indo-Pacific region, where North Korea’s weapons programme continues to pose a significant threat.
