New Footage Shows North Korean Regular Units Deployed in Russia to Support War Effort Against Ukraine

Russian state media outlets have publish new footage of Korean People’s Army units in Russia supporting the ongoing war effort against Ukraine and its supporters in the Western world. The personnel appear to be from regular infantry units, rather than engineering, special forces, ballistic missile, or artillery units which have all reportedly also been deployed in Russia. The North Korean personnel are seen wearing Russian uniforms and equipment. Although North Korea has been a leading supplier of tens of billions of dollars worth of armaments to Russia, the equipping of a number of units with Russian equipment has had symbolic value for both countries, and appears to be part of broader efforts to strengthen integration between the two countries’ armed forces in the face of common perceived threats. 

In December it was reported that combat engineers of the Korean People’s Army 528th Engineer Regiment had removed mines across an area of almost 42,400 hectares of territory in the Russian Kursk region, destroying over 1.5 million explosives, after a Ukrainian-led assault had been fully repelled in April 2025. The regiment that month returned to North Korea to a large welcoming ceremony, with a museum commemorating the Korean People’s Army’s contribution to the war effort having subsequently been shown to be under construction in the country. Other than unconfirmed reports of Iranian drone operators helping the Russian Armed Forces to use new types of unmanned aircraft that were exported to the country, North Korea has been Russia’s only strategic partner that has made major manpower contributions to its war effort, complementing the very large scale arms exports that have been made. 

In November the South Korean National Intelligence Service reported that the Korean People’s Army had began transferring thousands of additional personnel to Russia, with nearly 10,000 personnel already stationed near the Russian–Ukrainian border for guard duties. Around 5,000 personnel from North Korean construction units were reported to have been deployed to Russia since September, and were supporting reconstruction in disputed territories claimed by both Moscow and Kiev. The National Intelligence Service further reported that the Korean People’s Army had been maintaining training programs and personnel selection specifically in anticipation of dispatching further personnel to supporting the Russian war effort. It also highlighted the frequent visits being made to Russia by senior North Korean officials responsible for munitions.

Facing Korean People’s Army units, the Ukrainain assault into Kursk was supported by significant contingents of personnel from NATO member states, such as contractors from the American Forward Observation Group organisation and the Polish Volunteer Corps. The conflict is thus one of several where North Korean forces have fought against the United States and its Western allies, mirroring their contributions in the Vietnam War and in multiple Middle Eastern conflicts. The Russian Armed Forces have relied increasingly heavily on North Korean armaments for ongoing operations across the Ukrainian theatre, ranging from 170mm self propelled artillery and ballistic missiles, to mortars and anti-tank guided missiles. These systems have often surpassed the capabilities of Russian-produced equipment.