North Korean troops train in the Russian far east amid the Ukraine war
In the Russian Far East, approximately 3,500 North Korean soldiers are undergoing training. South Korean lawmaker Ju Jong-won disclosed this information, citing data from Ukrainian intelligence.
South Korean lawmaker Ju Jong-won reported that 3,500 soldiers from North Korea are undergoing training at five military centres in the Russian Far East. Ju provided this information following his visit to Ukraine, where he met with General Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence.
Ju Jong-won noted that a third contingent of North Korean soldiers could be sent to the front. According to the Polish Press Agency, a second contingent, comprising about 1,500 soldiers, has already been deployed in the Kursk region in western Russia after completing adaptive training.
At the end of February, South Korean intelligence confirmed that Pyongyang sent over a thousand military personnel to Russia between the end of January and February, thus supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Losses in the Kursk region
According to Ukrainian intelligence, out of the approximately 11,000 soldiers sent to fight in the Kursk region by the end of 2024, available information indicates that 400 were killed, and about 3,600 were wounded. Of the injured, 300 soldiers recovered and returned to the front.
Ukrainian forces entered the Kursk region in Russia on 6 August 2024. This offensive aimed to force the Russians to transfer some forces from Donbas to eastern Ukraine. In January last year, Ukrainian forces captured two North Korean soldiers.
At the end of February, South Korean Congressman Yu Yong-weon travelled to Ukraine, where he spoke with North Korean prisoners. After the talks, he reported that one wanted to stay in South Korea. The congressman showed a recording of this declaration.
