North Korea is reportedly preparing to send as many as 30,000 troops to reinforce Russia’s war with Ukraine, according to a Ukrainian intelligence assessment confirmed by Western intelligence sources.
The move would significantly expand Pyongyang’s role in the conflict, following the deployment of 11,000 North Korean soldiers last November. Of those, about 4,000 were reportedly killed or injured, yet cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has strengthened.
The two countries said the cooperation is based on the treaty signed by their leaders in June last year that includes a mutual defence pact.
Ukrainian intelligence says the additional troops may arrive within months and are expected to be integrated into Russian combat units occupying parts of Ukraine.
CNN reported that Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said the move reveals Russia’s growing reliance on authoritarian allies amid strained mobilisation efforts.
North Korea’s support includes more than 10 million artillery rounds and at least 100 ballistic missiles, some of which were used in deadly strikes on civilian areas like Pokrovsk.