North Korea sent 3,000 more soldiers to Russia this year: Seoul

North Korea has sent an additional 3,000 troops to Russia this year and continues to supply missiles, artillery, and ammunition to support Moscow in its war against Kyiv, South Korea’s military reported on Thursday. Traditional allies Russia and North Korea have strengthened ties since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with Seoul accusing Kim Jong Un’s regime of sending thousands of troops and containers of weapons to aid Russia.

Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has officially confirmed the troop deployment, but the two nations signed a sweeping military agreement last year, including a mutual defense clause, during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rare visit to North Korea. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) estimated that between January and February, an additional 3,000 North Korean troops were sent as reinforcements.

Of the initial 11,000 North Korean soldiers deployed to Russia, approximately 4,000 are believed to have been killed or wounded. “In addition to manpower, North Korea continues to supply missiles, artillery equipment, and ammunition,” the JCS report stated. The report further assessed that North Korea has delivered a significant quantity of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), as well as about 220 units of 170mm self-propelled guns and 240mm multiple rocket launchers.

The JCS warned that these numbers could increase depending on the battlefield situation. North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles last year, violating UN sanctions, with experts suggesting that Pyongyang may be testing weapons intended for export to Russia for use against Ukraine.

North Korean state media reported on Thursday that Kim Jong Un personally oversaw the test of new suicide and reconnaissance drones featuring artificial intelligence technology. The strategic reconnaissance drone is capable of tracking and monitoring various targets, including enemy troops and naval activities, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The suicide drones successfully demonstrated their ability to carry out various tactical attack missions. Kim assessed the improved performance of both the strategic reconnaissance drones and the suicide attack drones, which have been enhanced with new AI technology. He also approved a plan to expand the production capacity of these drones, KCNA reported.

Pyongyang first unveiled its attack drones in August last year, and experts believe this advancement could be linked to North Korea’s growing alliance with Russia. Analysts have warned that North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine are gaining modern warfare experience, including exposure to drone warfare.

North Korea has been focusing on developing unmanned weapon systems, such as drones, as part of its five-year defense plan, according to Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies. In 2024, Pyongyang accused South Korea of sending drones over its territory, a claim Seoul’s Ministry of Defense denied.

The drone attacks experienced by North Korean troops in Ukraine may have increased Kim Jong Un’s urgency to complete the development of these weapon systems. Producing advanced drones requires both scientific expertise and sufficient funding, and experts suggest that North Korea’s military cooperation with Russia could be an attempt to gain access to advanced technology.

The JCS report comes four months after Kim ordered the mass production of attack drones designed to carry explosives and be deliberately crashed into enemy targets, effectively serving as guided missiles. In 2022, Pyongyang sent drones across the border into South Korea, which Seoul’s military was unable to shoot down, citing their small size.