North Korea’s deployment of 6,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region violates U.N. sanctions and solidifies a dangerous military alliance that threatens global security as the two rogue nations exchange soldiers for advanced weapons technology.
Key Takeaways
- North Korea is sending 1,000 deminers and 5,000 military construction workers to Russia’s Kursk region, confirmed by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu during his visit to Pyongyang.
- This deployment violates U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting military cooperation with North Korea, with the U.S. State Department condemning it as an illicit “soldier-for-hire” scheme.
- Intelligence reports indicate at least 1,000 of an estimated 11,000 North Korean troops already in Russia have been killed within three months of deployment.
- Analysts believe North Korea is likely receiving payment or access to Russian military technology in exchange for its troops, potentially enhancing its nuclear and missile programs.
- The deepening military alliance between Russia and North Korea has prompted security concerns from the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, leading to increased trilateral defense cooperation.
Rogue Nations Deepen Military Cooperation
Russia has officially confirmed plans to accept 6,000 North Korean troops to assist in the contested Kursk region, marking a significant escalation in military cooperation between the two nations. Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, during his third visit to Pyongyang in three months, announced that North Korea would send 1,000 deminers and 5,000 military construction workers to help rebuild areas damaged during Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory. This deployment comes after reports that thousands of North Korean soldiers have already been fighting alongside Russian forces since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022.
“Chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong Un has decided to send 1,000 sappers to Russia to clear mines on Russian territory, as well as 5,000 military construction workers to restore infrastructure destroyed by the occupiers,” said Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu.
The increasing collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang follows the signing of a mutual defense treaty in November last year, which pledges assistance in case of aggression against either nation. Kim Jong Un has repeatedly expressed his commitment to “invariably and unconditionally support” Russia, including on “the Ukrainian issue.” This developing partnership represents a significant shift in regional power dynamics and creates new challenges for maintaining international security standards.
🚨🇷🇺🇰🇵 NORTH KOREA TO DEPLOY THOUSANDS TO REBUILD RUSSIA’S KURSK REGION
Kim Jong Un will send 6,000 North Koreans—including construction workers, deminers, and military brigades, to Russia for “restoration” work in Kursk, Russian officials say. Moscow calls it “fraternal… https://t.co/CgHjEND3Fl pic.twitter.com/gJYAxymzUY
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) June 18, 2025
Violations of International Sanctions
The deployment of North Korean troops to Russia constitutes a clear violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions that prohibit military cooperation with North Korea. These sanctions were put in place specifically to limit North Korea’s ability to develop its nuclear weapons program and to prevent the regime from earning foreign currency that could fund such development. The South Korean Foreign Ministry has explicitly stated that employing North Korean workers violates these international sanctions, while the U.S. State Department has labeled the arrangement an illicit “soldier-for-hire” scheme.
“Following the expulsion of invaders from Russian soil, we’ve agreed to continue our constructive cooperation, with the Korean side providing assistance in the restoration of the Kursk region. This is a kind of brotherly aid being sent by the Korean people and their leader, Kim Jong Un, to our country,” said Sergei Shoigu, Russian Security Council Secretary.
Despite these condemnations, both Russia and North Korea have framed the deployment as “fraternal assistance” rather than a military exchange. Shoigu described the arrangement as a “division of builders, two military brigades [of] 5,000 people” coming to help rebuild. Plans are also underway to erect memorials for North Korean soldiers who have died in the Kursk region, acknowledging the significant casualties their forces have already suffered. South Korean intelligence estimates around 15,000 North Koreans are currently working in Russia under various industrial cooperation programs.
Security Implications and International Response
The deepening military alliance between Russia and North Korea presents serious security concerns for the international community. Of particular worry is the potential for Russia to provide North Korea with advanced technologies for its nuclear and missile programs in exchange for military personnel. This technology transfer could significantly accelerate North Korea’s weapons development capabilities, creating a more dangerous situation in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has warned that this cooperation threatens global security.
“This is deeply concerning,” stated the U.S. State Department regarding North Korea’s increasing reliance on Russia for funds through labor and military support.
In response to these developments, South Korea, the United States, and Japan have increased their security cooperation, conducting trilateral aerial training exercises specifically designed to counter North Korea’s nuclear threats. The resumption of flights and rail links between Russia and North Korea, which Shoigu indicated would happen soon, will likely further facilitate military and economic cooperation between the two nations. “I hope that soon the first aircraft that has not flown for more than 30 years will take off,” said Shoigu, highlighting plans to strengthen transportation links that have been dormant for decades.
Human Cost and Strategic Calculation
Reports indicate that at least 1,000 of an estimated 11,000 North Korean troops already in Russia have been killed within just three months of deployment. This significant casualty rate underscores the dangerous nature of the missions these troops are undertaking and raises questions about North Korea’s willingness to sacrifice its soldiers for strategic gains. For North Korea, the benefits of this arrangement likely include not just payment for troops but also access to Russian military technology and expertise that could enhance its own defense capabilities.
For Russia, the influx of North Korean military personnel provides much-needed manpower for both combat operations and reconstruction efforts in contested regions like Kursk. This arrangement allows Russia to supplement its forces without increasing domestic mobilization, which could provoke internal opposition. The collaboration also strengthens Russia’s position against Western sanctions by developing alternative economic and military partnerships that operate outside of U.S.-led international systems.
