The North Korean Factor: Military Engineers on the Ground in Ukraine

Reports have emerged indicating that several thousand North Korean soldiers are currently engaged in training exercises in Russia, with intentions to be deployed to the front lines in Ukraine by the year’s end. This information comes from a Ukrainian military intelligence official who requested anonymity. According to this source, North Korean officers are already present in territories of Ukraine that are under Russian control, where they are observing local troops and evaluating the conditions on the battlefield.

Despite the ongoing training and preparations, Ukrainian forces have yet to encounter North Korean units participating in combat operations, as noted by the Washington Post. The official expressed uncertainty about the precise locations where these troops might be stationed, suggesting that the border regions of Russia could serve as a strategic option. This would enable the redeployment of Russian forces to frontline combat roles in Ukraine.

The intelligence representative cautioned that the integration of North Korean troops could substantially shift the dynamics of warfare in the region. “This involvement could yield significant repercussions, particularly if it leads to a freeing up of reserves within Russian territory,” the official remarked.

Andriy Kovalenko, the head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation, corroborated via Telegram that North Korea has already sent military personnel to Ukraine. This includes military engineers responsible for overseeing the deployment and effectiveness of their armaments. He stated, “The Ministry of Defense of South Korea confirms that North Korea is dispatching military personnel to Ukraine, and some have already arrived.”

Kovalenko elaborated, “I mentioned that North Korean military personnel, albeit in limited numbers, primarily engineers, are monitoring the quality and usage of Pyongyang’s weapons by the Russian military. Some of them have already lost their lives. Regarding the ammunition and KN-23 ballistic missiles, the overall quality appears to be subpar.”