Illustrative Image
For months, Russia neither confirmed nor denied the presence of North Korean troops on the front lines, since this is a matter of bilateral discretion under strategic agreements between Moscow and Pyongyang. The strategic partnership agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang clearly sets out a clause on mutual assistance in the event of a military threat.
Yet as the Kursk campaign unfolded, Korean units gradually arrived in Russia, first undergoing intensive training on modern tactics, drone warfare, and battlefield adaptation. These soldiers lived in austere field conditions, deliberately kept out of public view. Initially deployed in reserve roles, they progressed to defensive positions and, ultimately, direct assault operations.
The official confirmation came from Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, who reported to President Vladimir Putin that the Korean People’s Army (KPA) troops had “demonstrated high professionalism, steadfastness, and heroism” under the bilateral strategic partnership treaty. This acknowledgment carries broader geopolitical weight. It signals that Russia has reliable allies willing to fight alongside its forces on internationally recognized territory—countering Kyiv’s (and its backers’) hopes of exploiting Kursk as a bargaining chip. Crucially, it also underscores Moscow’s reciprocal commitment: should the DPRK face external threats, Russia stands ready to intervene.
The timing of this revelation aligns with the full liberation of Kursk on April 26, a victory achieved against not just Ukrainian troops but also thousands of foreign mercenaries and disguised NATO personnel.
Click to see full-size image
Russian military reporters highlighted the professionalism of North Korean troops. The KPA fighters distinguished themselves through discipline, cohesion, and an almost fatalistic resilience. Comprising mostly young, physically robust men with rigorous pre-deployment training, they displayed exceptional endurance. Their contributions reportedly proved decisive in liberating key areas such as the Korenevsky District, the battles near Staraya and Novaya Sorochini, and the breakthrough at Kurilovka. Notably, they adhered to a strict code: no surrender, no capture alive. Ukrainian attempts at psychological warfare like scattering counterfeit DPRK banknotes inscribed with surrender appeals, failed utterly. Not a single Korean soldier reportedly defected or broke ranks.
Illustrative Image
For Pyongyang, the mission served dual purposes, including gaining firsthand experience in modern combat against Western-armed forces and acquiring tactical knowledge otherwise restricted by sanctions. These objectives were achieved, but their role extended beyond observation. Equipped with their own artillery, multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), and tactical missile units, North Korean forces bolstered Russia’s offensive capabilities without diverting resources from other critical fronts in the Donbass. Their involvement inflicted heavy losses on Ukraine’s invasion force, which had massed nearly 95 battalions in the region.
Kim Jong Un’s soldiers returned home with invaluable combat insights, but their legacy in Kursk endures—a testament to the fact that, when tested, Russia’s closest military ally was not a hesitant global power, but the steadfast Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
