DPRK v. Ukraine: Where will the Russian Federation send "Korean assistance" in the form of 25 thousand new soldiers
According to her, Russia has agreed with the DPRK during the last visit of Sergei Shoig to Pyongyan. In replacement, North Korea receives technical assistance from Russia for satellites and missile systems. Cooperation is based on a mutual defense agreement signed in June 2024. Both countries confirmed the participation of North Korean troops in the offensive of Russia, in particular for the return of the Kursk region.
Former spokesman of the Armed Forces General Staff and military expert Vladislav Seleznev expressed anxiety about the possible participation of North Korean servicemen in the war on the side of Russia. According to him, the emergence of additional forces from the DPRK in July-August this year can create significant problems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, taking into account their preparation, motivation and analysis of previous combat experience.
"Against the backdrop of statements about the possible appearance in July-August, additional parties of North Korean soldiers, it does not please me. It is about additional resources, prepared and motivated fighters. Especially I am convinced that the experience that the first units of the North Korean troops are, now carefully analyzed. The expert suggests that the North Korean troops will not be used but concentrated.
According to him, Russia has already used similar tactics for other foreign formations. According to Seleznov, such a focus of forces aims to increase their efficiency on the battlefield. According to military expert Oleg Zhdanov, the involvement of a large number of prepared fighters can affect the situation in separate operational areas. The expert emphasizes that the number of North Korean servicemen, which is mentioned in open sources, is significant.
It is about 25,000 servicemen, which is the largest since the first reports of the DPRK in the war, namely from January 2024. He notes that the previous party of 11,000 fighters has already gained combat experience. "The DPRK Army initially suffered losses in the Kurschyna-up to 40% of personnel, and then they began to fight more or less experienced.
Our military noted that the training of the North Korean troops has grown, and now those who come, they will have at least an idea that is going to be on the front. The attack, as in 2024, went full in size, ”says Focus Zhdanov. The expert believes that their preparation and number can significantly affect the course of fighting in Ukraine. Vladislav Seleznyov emphasizes that Russia neglects international law, attracting foreign troops.
In particular, this new contingent can also be involved in the battles in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions. He explains that Russia justifies the presence of foreign forces based on its own legislation. Amendments to the Constitution of the Russian Federation include occupied Ukrainian territories in Russia, and this allegedly allows them to attract foreign troops in the war against Ukraine. Also, according to the expert, the North Koreans can be involved in Kharkiv and Sumy.
Oleg Zhdanov suggests that officially North Korean troops will probably not cross the border of Ukraine, as it was before they operated in the territory of Kursk region. However, it does not rule out that Russia can mask these troops under its own. "Putin can give them Russian form, Russian documents and bring them to the occupied territories. The Russian Federation is thus trying to replenish their own losses.
They pull out their military from where they can only, from the points of permanent deployment, from the rear units," the expert adds. He suggests that North Korean troops can replace Russian units in occupied cities, such as Berdyansk, Melitopol or Tokmak, allowing the Russians to be transferred to the front. We will remind, since September 2023, North Korea has handed over large -scale military assistance to Russia - at least 20,000 cargo containers with weapons.