North Korean troops deployed to Russia’s Kursk region have encountered significant challenges, including severe casualties, poor conditions, and psychological strain. Sent under a military cooperation agreement, an estimated 10,000 to 12,000 soldiers arrived in mid-2024, reportedly under the command of Colonel General Kim Yong Bok, commander of the North Korean special forces. However, their involvement has been marred by logistical shortcomings, insufficient training, and fierce opposition from Ukrainian forces.  

![North Korean soldiers arriving at a Russian training camp](/uploads/Screenshot_from_2025_04_03_12_30_48_23779e2605.png)

### Heavy Casualties and Operational Struggles
By late 2024, reports indicated that over 3,000 North Korean troops had been killed or wounded. Many soldiers, unprepared for modern warfare, had no tactical awareness of how to counter the relentless Ukrainian drone attacks. The troops relied heavily on Russian artillery support, which proved unreliable at times, with reports of friendly fire incidents further exacerbating losses. North Korea has reportedly declined to repatriate the bodies of soldiers killed, this decision stems from concerns that returning the remains could provoke public anger and potentially lead to civil unrest within North Korea. 

In lieu of repatriation, North Korean authorities are issuing certificates of war to the families of deceased soldiers. However, the bodies are not being returned, and there are reports that North Korean officials are exploring methods, such as utilizing facilities that rapidly freeze and crush remains.

Captured soldiers, claiming to be from the 'Korean People’s Army Special Operations Force (KPASOF)' revealed that many had been deceived into believing they were attending military training abroad rather than deploying to active combat zones. Their lack of familiarity with drone warfare and modern tactics left them vulnerable, leading to devastating losses in the early stages of their deployment. Ukrainian assessments suggested that the surviving troops were temporarily withdrawn in January 2025, only to be hastily replenished and sent back to the front lines in February.  
![Captured North Korean soldier in Ukraine](/uploads/Screenshot_from_2025_04_03_12_24_15_b7e4890de4.png)

### Psychological and Ideological Strain
The psychological toll on North Korean soldiers has been immense. Accounts of suicides among troops to avoid capture have surfaced, driven by fears of severe punishment for their families back home. In North Korea, perceived military failure often results in harsh repercussions, further increasing soldiers' distress.  

Embedded Ministry of State Security agents closely monitored troops, enforcing ideological discipline and preventing dissent. Soldiers were subjected to strict surveillance, with even minor acts of defiance met with severe punishment. Misinformation campaigns were also prevalent, with agents claiming that Ukrainian drones were being operated by South Koreans to stoke nationalist fervor and reduce sympathy for the enemy.  

### Strategic Gains for North Korea 
While the human cost of North Korea's involvement in Russia's war in Ukraine has been significant, the regime stands to gain from the combat experience it's troops are acquiring. Military analysts suggest that the surviving officers and soldiers will return with valuable firsthand knowledge of modern warfare. This experience includes exposure to advanced combat tactics, drone operations, electronic warfare and complex front line logistics — areas in which North Korea has traditionally lagged behind more technologically advanced militaries.

The insights gained from the battlefield will likely be carefully studied and incorporated into North Korea’s military doctrine. Observers anticipate that the Korean People’s Army (KPA) may adapt its training programs to emphasize counter-drone measures and the effective use of unmanned aerial systems. Additionally, the experience of operating alongside Russian forces and observing the tactical successes and failures of modern mechanized warfare will provide Pyongyang with critical lessons on large-scale combat operations.

Furthermore, North Korea's military-industrial complex may benefit from exposure to Russian weapons systems and battlefield tactics. Analysts suggest that knowledge gained from the war could accelerate the development of indigenous weapons and technological adaptations, particularly in the fields of electronic warfare and air defense. These advancements may also influence North Korea's asymmetric warfare strategies, as the regime has historically relied on unconventional tactics to offset technological inferiority.

In the long term, this combat experience could strengthen North Korea’s regional military posture, particularly along its heavily fortified border with South Korea. Enhanced training methods, improved battlefield coordination, and refined logistical systems may make the KPA a more formidable force. Additionally, the perceived success of its military personnel abroad may serve as valuable propaganda, reinforcing domestic narratives of North Korean military strength.

Access to captured Western military equipment would be a significant opportunity for North Korea, offering a rare chance to study and reverse-engineer advanced weaponry, vehicles, communication systems, and other military hardware. By analyzing these technologies, North Korea could accelerate the development of its own defense systems, enhance missile guidance and electronic warfare capabilities, and improve the durability and effectiveness of its military assets. Additionally, insights gained from Western systems could inform countermeasures against such technologies, bolstering North Korea’s asymmetric warfare strategies. This access would not only modernize its military but also strengthen its geopolitical influence, particularly if Pyongyang shares its findings with other adversarial states.

![US gifted Main Battle Tank captured by Russia](/uploads/Screenshot_from_2025_04_03_12_31_08_a316c780b0.png)

### Strengthening Relationship
On March 22, 2025, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu traveled to Pyongyang for a high-level meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This diplomatic engagement signals the continuation of North Korea’s support for Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It is widely speculated that the meeting will not only reinforce the current supply of ammunition and personnel but may also signal an expansion of North Korea's involvement in the conflict. Given the strategic importance of both Russia and North Korea’s evolving military cooperation, the meeting likely paves the way for deeper integration in their bilateral military efforts, with potential increases in arms shipments, military training, and logistical support. This development underscores the increasingly complex geopolitical dynamics in the region and highlights the deepening military alliance between the two nations.

As the conflict in Ukraine continues, the future of North Korean troops in Kursk remains uncertain. However, their experiences offer a stark insight into the cost of military alliances and the human toll of being Russia's ally.

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The costs and advantages for North Korea by deploying soldiers to help Russia in Kursk.

North Korean Troops in Kursk: The cost of supporting Russia 

Russia's dependence on North Korea is an illustration of desperation and failure in its military endeavors. Despite its boasts of military power, Russia's reliance on North Korea for ammunition and troops is a clear indication of its own military shortcomings and has exposed significant vulnerabilities in Russia's military. The fact that Russia has been forced to turn to a country with a relatively underdeveloped military like North Korea highlights the extent of its own capabilities' decline. This partnership may not be a game-changer for Russia, as Russia hoped, but rather a reflection of its own weakness. Ultimately, the developing Russia-North Korea partnership is a symptom of a larger problem - Russia's inability to achieve its military objectives through its own strength. As the conflict in Ukraine continues to drag on, it remains to be seen how long Russia can sustain its military efforts without a significant overhaul of its military strategy and capabilities.

## The Alliance
The Russia-North Korea relationship has been years in the making. Initially Russia's offers to North Korea were limited to economic assistance and diplomatic support. However, as the years passed, their economic ties have deepened, and Russia has become one of North Korea's primary trading partners. The 2010s saw a significant expansion of their cooperation, with joint ventures and diplomatic exchanges becoming increasingly common.

Today through collaborative efforts, Russia and North Korea are able to provide each other with vital support addressing critical needs that bolster their respective global standings. Russia benefits from North Korea's help in alleviating ammunition shortages, while North Korea gains access to advanced technology, allowing both nations to strengthen their positions on the world stage.

## Munitions
Driven by Russia's military struggles in Ukraine, North Korea has reportedly supplied Russia with at least 2.8 million artillery shells, and ballistic missiles to help alleviate its ammunition shortages. Reportedly half of Russia's shells used in Ukraine are from North Korea.

Dozens of ballistic missiles have also been supplied to Russia to damage and destroy cities in Ukraine, however there have been concerns about the quality of the ammunition. Approximately half of the North Korean missiles fired by Russia have malfunctioned and exploded mid-air, questioning their reliability.

In return, Russia has provided North Korea with resources such as food and energy, and has reportedly provided technologies for nuclear weapons and submarine missile launch systems which has supported North Korea in evading sanctions.

## Troop Deployment
There are reports that North Korea has deployed close to 11,000 troops to support Russian forces, however North Korea denied these reports despite proof of troops fighting near Sudzha.

## Troop Effectiveness
There are concerns regarding the effectiveness of North Korean troops and reports question the quality of training received by these soldiers. An ex North Korean soldier who defected to the United States warned that the troops would not be ready for battle due to a lack of training, and highlighted that North Korea had never fought in a major conflict.

Coming from an isolated nation, North Korean soldiers will face significant challenges in Ukraine due to their limited familiarity with the country and its terrain. Their military training has primarily taken place in the mountainous regions of North Korea, leaving them unprepared for the vastly different landscape of Ukraine's flat and expansive battlefields.

According to reports, North Korean soldiers in Russia have been equipped with advanced technology including night-vision goggles, thermal-imaging devices and illuminated gun sights. However, this may create challenges for the troops, as they are not accustomed to training with such equipment in North Korea. Additionally, they are fighting in a war where the use of drones is prevalent, which is another unfamiliar technology that may require significant adjustment.

Growing up in a country with limited food availability may potentially leave North Korean soldiers vulnerable to malnutrition. And the lack of mixing with other countries mean they may be vulnerable to illness as they come into contact with new people. South Korean researchers found that defectors from North Korea have higher rates of hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and parasites.

Furthermore, language barriers have reportedly hindered communication between North Korean soldiers and their Russian counterparts, potentially compromising training and joint military operations. This communication gap may pose significant challenges on the battlefield where clear and effective communication is critical.

## Conclusion
Russia has repeatedly relied on undertrained personnel, 'cannon fodder', to compensate for its military's skill and training deficiencies since the onset of the conflict. The Russian military has faced significant challenges in training its own personnel, which raises concerns about its capacity to provide adequate training to North Korean troops. Given these limitations, it is unlikely that Russia will be able to train North Korean forces to a satisfactory level of proficiency. It is likely that Russia is seeking to augment its numbers with troops from North Korea, who would be used to supplement its existing forces and mitigate losses incurred in Ukraine. This decision may be intended to enable Russia to continue its high-risk, high-casualty assaults, where the primary objective is to overwhelm enemy positions through sheer numbers rather than tactical finesse.

North Korea's pursuit of resources and partnerships has driven them to Russia, but this collaboration may come with a cost. Russia will likely use North Korean soldiers for their assaults as they did previously with Wagner and convicts, which would leave North Korea to bear the brunt of casualties. This would raise questions about the true benefits of this alliance for North Korea, as their military personnel would likely be put in serious harm's way.

Meanwhile, Russia's desperation for additional manpower has led them to seek out a partnership with a problematic ally, highlights the weaknesses in their position in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This move suggests that Russia's military strength and international standing may be more tenuous than it appears, as they resort to collaboration with a regime like North Korea, in order to bolster their illegal invasion of Ukraine. Avoiding depletion of their military capability beyond recoverable levels will be of key importance to Russia as the conflict progresses.

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Discussing Russia's reliance on North Korea for its illegal invasion of Ukraine. 

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