North Korean Forces Continue Operations in Russia’s Kursk, Targeting Ukraine in 2026

Updated 2026-02-05 08:17:29+00:00 (7 articles)

Image: Yonhap

Video footage of North Korean troops who joined the war in Ukraine to support Russia is seen in this file photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on Sept. 1, 2025. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) Source Full size

Sustained deployment of North Korean units in Kursk Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reports that North Korean soldiers dispatched in 2024 are still conducting artillery and rocket attacks on Ukraine’s border provinces as of January 2026, employing barrel artillery, multiple‑launch rocket systems (MLRS), and aerial‑artillery reconnaissance missions [1]. The troops operate under a rotation schedule agreed upon in the Russia‑North Korea strategic partnership, though exact personnel counts remain undisclosed [1]. Their continued presence demonstrates an ongoing, active combat role rather than a static advisory capacity [1].

Scale of the force and turnover Since the October 2024 deployment, more than 11,000 North Korean combat personnel have been sent to support Russian operations [1]. Approximately 3,000 of those fighters have already returned to the DPRK, reportedly bringing combat‑derived skills back to the North Korean army [1]. The high turnover suggests a systematic rotation designed to sustain operational effectiveness while limiting long‑term exposure of individual soldiers [1].

Evidence corroborated by North Korean media The Korean Central News Agency released a file‑photo on 1 September 2025 showing the deployed troops, providing visual confirmation of their presence in the Kursk region [1]. The Yonhap article relies on the Kyiv Independent’s reporting, which in turn cited HUR as its primary source [1]. This chain of reporting links Ukrainian intelligence, Ukrainian media, and South Korean news outlets in a consistent narrative [1].

Bilateral agreement underpins troop rotations The deployment follows a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by Kim Jong‑un and Vladimir Putin in June 2024, which includes provisions for regular troop exchanges and joint operations [1]. The agreement enables Moscow to supplement its forces while offering Pyongyang combat experience for its soldiers [1]. Rotation cycles are described as “periodic,” indicating an institutionalized mechanism rather than ad‑hoc deployments [1].

Sources

1.
Yonhap: North Korean Troops Remain Active in Russia’s Kursk Region, Targeting Ukraine – Reports that Ukrainian intelligence confirms ongoing North Korean combat activity in Kursk, details rotation under the Russia‑North Korea pact, cites 11,000 total deployments, 3,000 returns, and KCNA footage as evidence .
2026-02-05 08:17:29+00:00

Timeline

June 2024 – Kim Jong un signs a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with Russian President Vladimir Putin, establishing a mutual‑defense pact that obliges Pyongyang to provide military assistance to Moscow in exchange for security guarantees [2].

Oct 2024 – North Korea begins a large‑scale deployment of combat personnel to Russia’s Kursk region, eventually sending more than 11,000 troops to support Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine [2].

Early August 2025 – About 1,000 engineers of the 528th Regiment depart Pyongyang for Kursk to conduct mine‑clearing and combat engineering tasks under the mutual‑defense agreement [1][6].

Sept 1, 2025 – The Korean Central News Agency releases footage confirming the presence of North Korean troops operating in the Kursk area, providing visual proof of the ongoing deployment [2].

Oct 2025 – Construction of the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at the Overseas Military Operations starts in Pyongyang, marking the first North Korean monument dedicated to soldiers killed abroad [3][4].

Dec 12, 2025 – Kim Jong un welcomes the returning 528th Regiment in Pyongyang, awards the Order of Freedom and Independence, honors nine fallen engineers as “heroes,” calls their mine‑clearance work a “miracle,” and denounces Western forces as unable to match the DPRK army’s “revolutionary spiritual depth” [1][6][7].

Jan 5, 2026 – Kim, accompanied by Ri Sol‑ju and daughter Ju‑ae, plants a tree at the memorial site, declares the sacrifice of North Korean troops the “solid root and eternal cornerstone” of the motherland’s might, and oversees the first shovelful of earth for the museum’s construction [4][5].

Jan 25, 2026 – Kim inspects oversized combat‑scene sculptures at the Mansudae Art Studio for the overseas‑soldiers memorial, praises them for conveying “legendary feats and glorious life” and stresses the need for “high artistic portrayal and delicate perfection” [3].

Feb 5, 2026 – Ukrainian intelligence reports that North Korean units continue active operations in Kursk, firing artillery and conducting reconnaissance; roughly 3,000 trained fighters have already returned home, and periodic rotations persist under the Moscow‑Pyongyang pact [2].

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