North Korea Deploys More Troops to Russia Amid Ongoing War: Seoul Intelligence

North Korea has reportedly sent additional troops to Russia and redeployed some forces to the frontline in the Kursk region, according to South Korea’s intelligence agency. This comes after more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers were said to have been deployed last year to assist Moscow in its fight against Ukraine’s counteroffensive near the border.

Earlier this month, Seoul claimed that North Korean forces on the Kursk frontline had not engaged in combat since mid-January. Ukraine also reported their withdrawal following significant losses. However, on Thursday, an official from South Korea’s National Intelligence Agency stated that these troops had been sent back to the area.

In addition to the redeployment, the official noted that further North Korean troop movements had been observed, though the exact scale is still under assessment. Despite these reports, both Moscow and Pyongyang have remained silent on the matter.

The growing military ties between Russia and North Korea were solidified when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang last year and signed a defense agreement, which included a mutual security clause. The extent of North Korea’s direct involvement in combat remains uncertain, but their military support for Russia appears to be increasing as the war in Ukraine drags on.