North Korea sends 6,000 troops to Russian frontlines in a bold escalation that openly defies U.N. sanctions and threatens global security, marking Kim Jong Un’s most aggressive military partnership in decades.
Key Takeaways
- North Korea is deploying 1,000 deminers and 5,000 military construction workers to Russia’s contested Kursk region, confirming an unprecedented military alliance
- This deployment directly violates multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting military cooperation with North Korea
- Russia and North Korea have signed a mutual defense treaty and are planning memorials for North Korean soldiers who have already died in combat
- U.S. intelligence suggests Russia may provide North Korea with advanced military technology for its nuclear and missile programs in exchange for troop support
- At least 1,000 North Korean soldiers have reportedly been killed within just three months of deployment in Russia
Kim Jong Un’s “Fraternal Assistance” Strengthens Putin’s Military Position
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu confirmed during his third visit to Pyongyang in three months that North Korea will deploy 6,000 military personnel to the contested Kursk region. The force includes 1,000 specialized deminers and 5,000 military construction workers, representing a significant expansion of North Korea’s existing military presence in Russia. This deployment represents a dramatic escalation in relations between the two nations, which have grown increasingly close since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
“Chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong Un has decided to send 1,000 sappers to Russia to clear mines on Russian territory, as well as 5,000 military construction workers to restore infrastructure destroyed by the occupiers,” according to Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu.
The deployment follows a mutual defense treaty signed between Russia and North Korea last November, which pledged mutual assistance in case of aggression against either nation. Kim Jong Un has repeatedly expressed his commitment to “invariably and unconditionally support” Russia’s military actions. The deepening alliance comes as both nations face international isolation – Russia for its Ukraine invasion and North Korea for its nuclear weapons program.
🚨🇷🇺🇰🇵 NORTH KOREA TO DEPLOY THOUSANDS TO REBUILD RUSSIA’S KURSK REGION
Kim Jong Un will send 6,000 North Koreans—including construction workers, deminers, and military brigades, to Russia for “restoration” work in Kursk, Russian officials say. Moscow calls it “fraternal… https://t.co/CgHjEND3Fl pic.twitter.com/gJYAxymzUY
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 18, 2025
Mounting North Korean Casualties and Memorial Plans
Reports indicate that at least 1,000 North Korean soldiers have already been killed within just three months of deployment in Russia, representing nearly 10% of the estimated 11,000 North Korean troops currently serving there. Despite these significant losses, both nations are doubling down on their partnership. During his recent visit to Pyongyang, Shoigu announced plans to erect memorials for fallen North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region.
“Following the expulsion of invaders from Russian soil, we’ve agreed to continue our constructive cooperation, with the Korean side providing assistance in the restoration of the Kursk region. This is a kind of brotherly aid being sent by the Korean people and their leader, Kim Jong Un, to our country,” said Sergei Shoigu.
The Kursk region has been a heavily contested battleground with intense fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces. Intelligence sources indicate that North Korean forces have been present in Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, though their role has expanded significantly in recent months. Beyond military personnel, South Korean intelligence estimates that approximately 15,000 North Koreans are currently working in Russia under various industrial cooperation programs.
Blatant Violation of International Law and Sanctions
The U.S. State Department has condemned the North Korean troop deployment as “deeply concerning” and a clear violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions. These resolutions explicitly prohibit U.N. member states from engaging in military cooperation with North Korea or using North Korean workers, measures that were implemented to pressure Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons program. The Biden administration has characterized the arrangement as an illicit “soldier-for-hire” scheme.
South Korea, Japan, and the United States have responded to the growing threat by conducting trilateral aerial training exercises aimed at strengthening security cooperation against North Korea’s nuclear threats. Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has warned that the cooperation between Russia and North Korea threatens global security, particularly if Russia provides advanced military technology to enhance North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities.
Expanding Partnership Beyond Military Cooperation
The alliance extends beyond troop deployments, with Shoigu announcing plans to restore transportation links between the two nations. “I hope that soon the first aircraft that has not flown for more than 30 years will take off,” stated Shoigu, indicating that flights and rail connections between Russia and North Korea are expected to resume imminently. These developments represent a comprehensive breakdown of the international sanctions regime that has constrained North Korea for years.
Analysts suggest that North Korea is likely receiving substantial payment or access to Russian military technology in exchange for its troops and support. The partnership provides Kim Jong Un with resources to sustain his regime despite international isolation, while Russia gains valuable military personnel for its war efforts. This mutually beneficial arrangement has created a formidable alliance that directly challenges the international rules-based order President Trump has fought to preserve.
