Russia Stations 3,000 North Korean Troops Near Ukrainian Border, Says Financial Times

Around 3,000 North Korean soldiers were recently moved to Russia’s Kursk region and stationed in barracks about 50 kilometers from the Ukrainian border as of October 28.

This was reported by the Financial Times, citing Ukrainian intelligence sources.

South Korean intelligence indicates that the first North Korean troops to arrive in Russia earlier in October belong to the elite 11th Army Corps, known as the “Storm Corps.”

Ukrainian intelligence officials have expressed doubts about the combat readiness of these North Korean troops, describing them as “inexperienced infantry.”

“They’ve never been outside their country... They have no experience in real combat, and their skills are far removed from the realities of modern warfare,” a senior Ukrainian intelligence officer told reporters, according to FT.

Only in recent weeks have North Korean soldiers encountered different types of drones that are now widely used in the Russia-Ukraine war. Ukrainian officials believe that Russia may use North Korean troops as “cannon fodder” — a tactic that has become a brutal yet common approach in Russian assaults, reports FT.

A Ukrainian official added that deploying North Korean forces as assault troops could increase the likelihood of their capture, undermining Moscow and Pyongyang’s claims that North Korean soldiers are not involved in the war against Ukraine.

Earlier in October 26, Spanish newspaper EL PAÍS reported, citing a member of the Ukrainian State Border Guard, that Ukrainian forces have already targeted buildings in the Russian region of Kursk where North Korean troops are believed to be stationed.