According to South Korean and Ukrainian officials, the situation on the Ukrainian front is complicated by the presence of North Korean troops. 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 together with Russian troops.
The military presence of the DPRK in Ukraine
Analysts of the American Institute for the Study of War, citing a representative of Ukrainian intelligence, report that North Korean officers are observing Russian troops and studying the battlefield in the occupied territories of Ukraine. However, currently there is no active participation of North Korean units in hostilities on the territory of Ukraine.
According to a Ukrainian official, "several thousand" North Korean infantrymen are undergoing training on the territory of Russia. The Russian military command can send them to the front in Ukraine by the end of 2024, which will free up reserves for military operations.
The deployment of North Korean troops at the front is still unclear in terms of its scope, but it may give Russia the opportunity to attract additional forces for priority offensive operations in Ukraine. Analysts note that the presence of North Korean troops may 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 watching Russian infantry training at the training ground when Ukrainian missiles hit the area. According to The Guardian , "dozens" of North Korean military personnel are currently in the occupied territory of Ukraine, helping Russian forces work with provided missile launchers.
