U.S. Reports Thousands of North Korean Troops Positioned on Ukraine Border

Department of Security and Military Strategic Research and Studies 04-11-2024

The United States has reported that around 8,000 North Korean troops are stationed in Russia near the Ukrainian border, with Russia planning to deploy them into combat “within days.” Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that North Korea initially sent 10,000 soldiers, with the majority now in the Kursk region after training in Russia. These troops have received Russian training in artillery, drone operations, and trench warfare.

This marks a potential major escalation, linking the Ukraine conflict to East Asian tensions. Blinken urged China to use its influence to curb Pyongyang’s involvement, noting that China may view this alliance as destabilizing for East Asia.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy warned that North Korean forces could enter combat soon, with Russia potentially using foreign troops to reduce Russian casualties. U.S. and South Korean officials have cautioned that if North Korean soldiers engage, they would become “legitimate military targets.”