How North Korea Joined Russia in Its War on Ukraine

North Korea has officially become an active player in Russia’s war on Ukraine, supporting Moscow’s efforts on multiple fronts. This alliance has been financially rewarding for Pyongyang, which, according to estimates, has provided Russia with at least $1.7 billion in weaponry, with some assessments reaching $5.5 billion. These payments are handled either directly or through bartering deals, exchanging arms for food, advanced military technology, and assistance in nuclear, missile, submarine, and fighter jet programs.

For Russia, this partnership is crucial. Despite operating its factories around the clock, Moscow struggles to meet the demands of its frontlines. North Korean ammunition and missiles enable Russia to sustain its intense warfare in Ukraine.

This report tracks North Korea’s escalating role in Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Political background

In the summer of 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu traveled to Pyongyang, where he met directly with Kim Jong Un. While details of their discussions were initially unclear, U.S. intelligence suggested that Russia was in search of arms and ammunition suppliers. Initially, experts doubted North Korea’s capacity to fulfill these demands—they were wrong.

The Pyongyang meeting marked the beginning of military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

This collaboration is particularly effective because both countries rely on Soviet-era weaponry, such as 152mm ammunition, rather than NATO-standard 155mm. This alignment means North Korea didn’t need to retool its production lines, and any quality issues were offset by the sheer volume of supplies.

Ammunition and equipment

North Korea began supplying Russia with military aid in September 2023, as reported by Ukraine and South Korea’s intelligence. Initial shipments included ammunition containers, with the scale of transfers as follows:

• March 2024: 7,000 containers sent from North Korea to Russia.

• June 2024: 11,000 containers.

• September 2024: Up to 20,000 containers.

Unofficial sources estimate North Korea may have provided Russia with around 9 million shells within a year.

South Korean intelligence reports that this support hasn’t diminished Kim Jong Un’s military stockpiles, thanks to North Korea’s extensive militarization, which includes nearly 200 ammunition factories nationwide.

In addition to ammunition, North Korea has reportedly supplied Russia with large quantities of footwear, equipment, and military uniforms. With Russia recruiting between 30,000-40,000 new soldiers each month, domestic production has struggled to keep up with demand.

Missiles

In late 2023, North Korea’s supply of ballistic missiles to Russia was exposed when remnants were found in Ukraine following intercepted attacks. Russia has since continued to use North Korean missiles in repeated strikes on Ukrainian territory.

The KN-23 ballistic missile, previously reported on, can reach distances of up to 600 kilometers and carries a 500 kg warhead.

The exact number of missiles transferred remains unknown. However, reports suggest that alongside these missile shipments, North Korea also sent personnel to Russia to assist with launches and assess their performance in real combat situations. North Korean military advisors have reportedly been stationed in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

Troops

In October 2024, reports emerged that North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine had intensified further. For the first time, a third country has willingly sent its own soldiers to participate in this war.

Between 1,500 and 11,000 North Korean troops are expected to be deployed, as reported by OSINT sources, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), and South Korean intelligence. The first group, comprising 2,500-3,000 North Korean soldiers, is reportedly undergoing training at Russian military bases.

North Korean soldiers are being trained for front-line combat, with Russia’s Kursk region—a location where Russian forces have faced difficulties advancing—cited as a potential deployment area.

In recent weeks, Russian forces have suffered over 10,000-11,000 irrecoverable losses—nearly twice the rate of last year—making these reinforcements critical for them. With recruitment problems persisting, Putin sees North Korea’s military support as a valuable lifeline. For Kim Jong Un, this represents an opportunity to gain real combat experience and training for his troops. U.S. officials suggest North Korea’s participation is compensated through nuclear technology—an area where Pyongyang lacks resources. Russia has reportedly shared such technology with Iran as well.

Comprehensive strategic partnership

The Russian State Duma ratified on October 24 a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement with North Korea, initially signed on June 19. The agreement includes provisions for military and additional support.

As of fall 2024, two nuclear-armed states are now directly engaged in combat against Ukraine. Yet, Ukraine’s armed forces still lack authorization to strike military targets on Russian territory with long-range Western missiles.