In a recent report by The New York Times, a Ukrainian official and two American officials revealed that thousands of North Korean troops have arrived in Russia’s Kursk region, with expectations to participate in an upcoming counteroffensive aimed at pushing back Ukrainian forces. According to these officials, the North Korean military (the KPA) has not yet engaged in combat, and their precise role in this conflict remains unclear. However, any significant deployment of KPA forces could allow Russia to retain more troops in eastern Ukraine, enabling them to focus on occupying as much Ukrainian territory as possible before winter sets in.

For weeks, both South Korean and Ukrainian governments have issued warnings about thousands of North Koreans training alongside Russian forces, with Ukrainian estimates suggesting numbers as high as 12,000. American officials have confirmed that a contingent of KPA troops has been transported by ship to Vladivostok, with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin labeling the situation as a “very, very serious” escalation.

As reported by the Times, the first group of KPA soldiers reached Kursk on the 23rd of October after a grueling journey of approximately 6,400 kilometers, with daily arrivals of thousands more anticipated. A senior Ukrainian official indicated that by the 28th, as many as 5,000 North Korean troops could be assembled in the region.

These troops are said to be part of North Korea’s elite military units. Ukrainian officials reported that they are flying on large Il-76 transport planes from Vladivostok to a military airfield in western Russia before being transported by land to the conflict area. However, there are conflicting signals regarding whether additional KPA forces will be dispatched to fight on Ukrainian soil, with current focus being solely on the Kursk region.

The Times highlighted that, if the North Korean military were to become involved, it is uncertain how the dynamics of the battlefield might shift. Since the 1950s, the KPA has not participated in any wars, raising questions about the capabilities of its elite forces. Prior to engaging in battle, these troops would face language barriers, unfamiliar terrain, and potentially different military customs. Should they be deployed to the Kursk front, they would encounter a battle-hardened Ukrainian army that has proven difficult for Russian forces to dislodge.

Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst at Finland’s Blackbird Group, expressed skepticism on social media platform X, stating, “If they eventually reach the front lines, I don’t expect them to be an effective fighting force.” However, he noted that it may not be the primary concern, adding, “Someone has to die on the battlefield, and from the Russian perspective, if that ‘someone’ isn’t Russian, then that’s certainly better.”