North Korea confirms troop deployment to Russia for Ukraine

Following the "comprehensive strategic partnership agreement" signed between North Korea and Russia in 2024, it was estimated that the Pyongyang administration had sent approximately 12 thousand troops to Russia. According to a report by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), a statement from the country's Central Military Commission confirmed for the first time that troops had been sent to Russia.

The statement noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent the troops under the agreement signed with Moscow to "help Russia reclaim the Kursk region from the Ukrainian army." The statement, which claimed that Russia's operation to retake the Kursk region was successful, did not provide details on how many North Korean soldiers were sent to Russia or how many had lost their lives. On April 26, Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin that the Kursk region had been completely cleared of the Ukrainian army. The Armed Forces of Ukraine, however, had announced that they were continuing their military operations in some districts of the Kursk region. According to a report by Yonhap, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the North's confirmation that it had sent troops to Russia for the first time.

News Source: 12punto