North Korean troops officially deployed to war against Ukraine

State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel expressed concern that Russia has turned to North Korea for troops to fight against Ukraine, stating that over 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to eastern Russia, with most moving to the border's western Kursk Oblast to engage in combat alongside Russian forces.

Participation of North Korean troops in the war against Ukraine

On Oct. 18, the Defense Ministry announced that nearly 11,000 North Korean troops are training in eastern Russia to fight in Ukraine, with South Korean intelligence confirming that Russia is preparing North Korean special forces for the conflict.

On Oct. 28, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte verified the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia’s Kursk Oblast.

Ukrainian intelligence reports that Russia has armed North Korean forces with "infantry-style" equipment, including mortars, rifles, and machine guns.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is trading troops for money, military technology, and recognition from Putin, according to The Washington Post.

On Nov. 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that 11,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Kursk, and on Nov. 5, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed an initial skirmish with North Korean troops on the Kursk front.