North Korea Ready to Send 30,000 Troops to Ukraine Battlefield to Support Russia — Ukrainian Intelligence Agency

North Korea Ready to Send 30,000 Troops to Ukraine Battlefield to Support Russia — Ukrainian Intelligence Agency
[Pyongyang, July 3, 2025] — North Korea is preparing to actively participate in the ongoing war in Ukraine on Russia’s behalf. According to the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, as reported by CNN, Pyongyang plans to triple its troop presence by sending 30,000 soldiers to the battlefield.

Earlier, in the fall of 2024, around 11,000 North Korean troops secretly fought alongside Russian forces against Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region. Western intelligence sources say about 4,000 soldiers in that contingent were killed or injured. Although it was not officially acknowledged at the time, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly confirmed the deployment for the first time in April 2025.

According to the new plan, the fresh troop contingent will arrive in Russia within the next few months and may join Russian forces in launching a large-scale offensive in Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine.

The Russian Ministry of Defense is reportedly already prepared to supply the necessary weapons, ammunition, and logistics for the North Korean troops. Intelligence reports indicate that these soldiers will mainly be deployed in Ukrainian territories held by Russia and could be used to carry out major attacks.

Ukrainian intelligence further revealed that Russian military transport aircraft are being refurbished to transfer these foreign troops to bases in Siberia. Notably, since North Korea borders Russia’s eastern frontier, such transfers are strategically convenient.

Satellite images have already shown some evidence. CNN reports increased activity of IL-76 cargo planes at North Korea’s Sunan Airport, previously used for troop transport. Simultaneously, there is evidence of the arrival and departure of the Russian Ropucha-class amphibious landing ship at the Donai port.

Satellite images taken in October 2024 showed North Korean soldiers gathering military equipment at the Sergeyevka military base in Russia. The following month, a Russian Ropucha-class ship capable of carrying 400 soldiers was anchored near Nakhodka at Donai port.

Joe Byrne, senior analyst at the UK-based Open Source Center, said, “Satellite images from May and June show significant activity at Sunan Airport. Along with the presence of troop carriers at Donai port and increased aircraft movements, it confirms the reactivation of prior routes for deploying North Korean troops.”

However, so far, neither Pyongyang nor Moscow has officially confirmed this new deployment plan.

This move signals a new level in North Korea-Russia relations and could pose a significant challenge to the Western alliance on the battlefield. It also raises security concerns in the Asia-Pacific region.