Ukrainian Officials Report First Engagements with North Korean Soldiers

Ukraine’s senior officials have disclosed that North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat with Ukrainian forces for the first time. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov stated in an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS that a “small group” of North Korean soldiers came under attack. According to US officials who spoke with the Reuters news agency, North Korean troops were involved in fighting in Russia’s Kursk region on 4 November. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who had previously criticized the West’s insufficient reaction to the presence of North Korean troops, commented that these “first battles with North Korea open a new chapter of instability in the world”. Conversely, Seoul indicated that it “does not believe [troops on both sides] engaged in direct combat,” but acknowledged an “incident” involving a limited number of North Korean soldiers “near the frontline.” Ukraine estimates that approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers were present in the Kursk border region, an area where Ukrainian forces maintain a presence. In recent weeks, intelligence agencies from South Korea and the US, along with Nato, have reported observing evidence of North Korean troops participating in Russia’s conflict. Nevertheless, Moscow and Pyongyang have not yet issued direct responses to any of these claims. Andriy Kovalenko, Ukraine’s leading counter-disinformation official, initially announced in a Telegram post on Monday that North Korea’s “first military units… [had] already come under fire in Kursk.” Rustem Umerov corroborated this in an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS, stating his expectation that a “significant number” of North Korean troops would be involved in combat, though he qualified this by saying it was “so far just small contacts, not full-scale engagement.” He further noted that the majority of these troops are still undergoing training. Umerov remarked, “They’re wearing Russian uniforms, they’re undergoing tactical training, and they’re being deployed under various commands of the Russian army on the front lines.” He also indicated the probable deployment of five units, each comprising approximately 3,000 soldiers, across the combat zone. He did not provide information regarding potential casualties. During a daily video address on Wednesday, Zelensky urged Ukraine “together with the world… [to do] everything to make this Russian step toward expanding the war… a failure. Both for them, and for North Korea.” News of this action by North Korea has also caused concern in South Korea, escalating tensions between the two nations. Late last month, Seoul had summoned Russia’s ambassador to demand the “immediate withdrawal” of North Korean troops from Ukraine. South Korea also cautioned that it was contemplating the direct provision of arms to Ukraine. Analysts have suggested that Pyongyang might receive payment or access to Russian military technology in return for its troops. On Wednesday, Russian lawmakers are scheduled to vote on the ratification of a mutual defence treaty with North Korea, which was initially proposed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s extensive visit to Pyongyang in June. This treaty commits Russia and North Korea to assist each other if “aggression” is directed against either nation.