According to reports from South Korean and Ukrainian officials, the situation on the Ukrainian front is being complicated by the presence of North Korean soldiers. It is noted that North Korean soldiers are already participating in the war in Ukraine and are also undergoing training in Russia for possible deployment with Russian troops.
North Korea's military presence in Ukraine
Analysts at the American Institute for the Study of War, citing a Ukrainian intelligence official, report that North Korean officers are monitoring Russian troops and studying the battlefield in the occupied territories of Ukraine. However, there is currently no active participation of North Korean units in combat operations on the territory of Ukraine.
According to a Ukrainian official, “several thousand” North Korean infantrymen are undergoing training in Russia. The Russian military command may send them to the front in Ukraine by the end of 2024, which will free up reserves for combat operations.
The deployment of North Korean troops to the front remains unclear in terms of its scale, but it could give Russia the opportunity to attract additional forces for priority offensive operations in Ukraine. Analysts note that the presence of North Korean troops could create opportunities for Ukraine to exploit this situation, depending on the quality and structure of the forces, their interoperability, and location.
The latest news also reports the death of six North Korean army officers in Donbas. They were allegedly observing Russian infantry training at a training ground when Ukrainian missiles hit the area. According to The Guardian , “dozens” of North Korean soldiers are currently in the occupied territory of Ukraine, helping Russian forces operate the missile launchers they have provided.
