North Korea Sends 5000 Construction Troops to Russia, Seoul Confirms

South Korea’s intelligence agency has revealed that North Korea has sent more than 5,000 construction troops to Russia since September, marking a deepening partnership between the two heavily sanctioned nations.

According to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), around 10,000 additional North Korean soldiers are already positioned near the Russia–Ukraine border, and 1,000 military engineers are assisting Russian forces with mine-clearing and reconstruction work. The deployments reportedly began shortly after Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia, where both sides agreed to expand cooperation in “defense and economic fields.”

While officially described as “construction units,” Seoul believes the troops are supporting military logistics, fortifications, and infrastructure repair in Russia’s border regions, particularly Kursk and Belgorod, where repeated Ukrainian strikes have caused significant damage.

Analysts say Moscow is turning to North Korean manpower to ease labour shortages caused by the prolonged war, while Pyongyang is seeking fuel, food, and possible military technology in exchange. Western officials fear this could involve missile or satellite know-how, strengthening North Korea’s weapons programs.

The United States and South Korea have condemned the move, calling it a violation of UN sanctions that prohibit North Korea from sending workers abroad. Seoul has also warned that further deployments could lead to new sanctions targeting both Russia and North Korea.

The revelation highlights a growing Moscow–Pyongyang axis, with North Korean weapons already flowing to Russian forces and now, manpower following suit. As the Ukraine war drags on, the line between “support” and “participation” for North Korea appears to be rapidly fading.