According to sources within Ukraine’s intelligence services, Ukrainian forces have reportedly engaged in combat with North Korean troops deployed in Russia’s Kursk region. This development, marking the first confirmed skirmish between the two nations, was reported by The Financial Times, citing high-ranking officials within Ukraine’s defence intelligence agency.
Ukrainian intelligence officials confirmed the encounter, though specific details on the skirmish were withheld. A senior Ukrainian intelligence representative indicated that the clash occurred in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces currently control approximately 600 square kilometres – around half of the territory they held following a summer offensive.
In recent statements, Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Military Intelligence (HUR) asserted that Russia has equipped North Korean forces stationed in Kursk with various armaments. These include 60mm mortars, assault rifles, machine guns, sniper rifles, and anti-tank missile systems, along with man-portable anti-tank rocket systems. The equipment reportedly extends to night vision devices and thermal imagers, providing North Korean forces with enhanced capabilities in low-visibility conditions. According to Ukrainian intelligence, several hundred North Korean special forces personnel have also been stationed in the region.
North Korean Units Come Under Fire
Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Counteracting Disinformation within the National Security and Defence Council, stated on Telegram that the initial North Korean military units deployed near Kursk had already come under fire.
While Ukrainian analysts have raised questions over the combat effectiveness of these North Korean troops, some Ukrainian officials reportedly described the forces as inexperienced. “We will soon see just how capable they are,” one official remarked.
Moscow’s Alleged Support for North Korean Missile Programme
Beyond the battlefield, a Ukrainian intelligence source claimed that Moscow is extending military technology to North Korea, purportedly aiding Pyongyang’s missile programme. This assistance, the source noted, may also include financial support. While these assertions remain unverified, they suggest a deepening military and technological partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Recent Diplomatic Meeting in Moscow
In an apparent signal of closer ties, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui at the Kremlin on Monday. During the meeting, Choe expressed confidence in Russia’s ultimate success under Putin’s leadership, stating that “under the wise guidance of the esteemed President Vladimir Putin, the Russian army and people will certainly achieve a great victory in their sacred struggle to protect the sovereign rights and security of their state.”
While Putin refrained from directly confirming the presence of North Korean troops in Russia, he suggested that any such deployment would be consistent with a security pact between Russia and North Korea.
Background of North Korean Troop Deployment
Reports last week from the United States and South Korea corroborated Ukrainian intelligence assessments, confirming that around 8,000 North Korean troops had been sent to Kursk in recent weeks. This deployment aims to bolster Russian efforts to reclaim territory seized by Ukrainian forces in August. North Korean soldiers have been stationed approximately 50 kilometres from the Ukrainian border and, according to Ukrainian intelligence, are preparing to engage in combat within days.
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