Tens of thousands of Russian, North Korean troops to attack Ukraine

Tens of thousands of troops from Russia and North Korea are preparing to carry out an assault on Ukrainian forces under a landmark new defence deal.

Vladimir Putin has signed off on a landmark defence pact with North Korea as tens of thousands of troops from both nations prepare to carry out an assault on the Ukrainian-seized territories of Russia.

Some 50,000 troops – 11,000 of them from North Korea wearing Russian uniform – are set to take part in the attack in Russia’s Kursk region – which was taken by Ukraine in August – in the coming days.

A Ukrainian commander told CNN that the North Korean troops were taking part in direct combat operations there, as well as defensive operations in the neighbouring Belgorod region.

“Mostly, the tasks are defined as the second echelon of defence,” the unnamed commander said, adding that specialist artillerymen and snipers were among the personnel.

“In the Kursk region, these are direct combat operations. These groups will be directly involved in combat operations in the short term on the territory of Ukraine. They are highly likely to emerge in the occupied territories of Ukraine as well.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024. Picture: Gavriil Grigorov/AFP

The commander described the North Korean troops as a “significant resource” for Russia’s war on Ukraine, freeing up their Russian counterparts for assault operations elsewhere.

“In military terms, they amount to three full-blooded brigades,” he explained.

“Imagine that now the enemy withdraws 10,000 soldiers from the second line of defence, puts soldiers from North Korea there, and sends these three brigades to one of the (places where) active hostilities are underway.

“Are three full-blooded brigades a significant resource? Yes, it is a significant resource.”

Approximately 11,000 North Korean troops are part of the combined forces, according to US intelligence officials. Picture: Ed Jones/AFP

Citing US intelligence, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the North Korean soldiers are equipped with Russian uniforms and trained in artillery, drones, and infantry operations, including trench clearing.

This, he said, showed that Moscow intends to use them in frontline operations.

Institute for the Study of War analyst, George Barros, told The Times it is “likely not going to be a one-time shipment of 10,000 soldiers”.

“It is more likely going to be a way to regularly pull in thousands, perhaps up at 15,000 men a month.”

Russian servicemen pictured earlier this year. Picture: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP

Mr Putin struck the “breakthrough document” during a visit to North Korea in June, but it had to pass through his parliament and signed by the Kremlin leader to come into force.

The agreement formalises months of deepening security co-operation between the two countries, which were Communist allies throughout the Cold War.

North Korea has become one of the most vocal and important backers of Russia’s full-scale offensive on Ukraine, with this latest pact obligating both states to provide military assistance “without delay” in the case of an attack on the other.

Until now, North Korea had never sent troops into combat abroad before, primarily out of fear that they might defect or make unflattering comparisons between foreign armies and their own.

“The regime is worried that soldiers from the isolated country might pick up ‘incorrect’ ideas,” a researcher at Seoul’s Kookmin University, Fyodor Tertitskiy, told AFP.

In exchange for supplying troops, US officials told The Times they believe North Korea expects to receive rocket and missile technology from Russia as well as diplomatic support.