Russia Sends Soldiers to North Korea for Military Cooperation Disguised as Medical Treatment, ISW Reports

Russia is reportedly sending soldiers to North Korea under the pretense of medical treatment, but in reality, they are exchanging military expertise with North Korean forces, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on February 11.

ISW highlighted remarks by Russia’s ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, who stated that Moscow had sent “hundreds” of wounded soldiers to North Korea for rehabilitation. He also claimed that Pyongyang refused Russia’s offer of financial compensation for their treatment.

Analysts at ISW noted that Russian military leadership has previously been accused of sending wounded soldiers back to combat without proper care, reflecting a broader disregard for troop welfare. This casts doubt on Moscow’s official claims that soldiers are being sent abroad purely for medical reasons.

“The arrival of combat experienced Russian soldiers, particularly if they include officers or non-commissioned officers, to North Korea may allow the Russian military to work with North Korean forces and disseminate lessons from the war in Ukraine while ostensibly recuperating,” ISW wrote.

Western leaders and Ukrainian officials reported that since last fall, North Korea has deployed around 11,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces, primarily in Russia’s Kursk region.

Previously, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to support Russia in its war against Ukraine and threatened to bolster his nuclear arsenal in response to growing military cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea, Yonhap News reported on February 8.