Overview

• Satellite imagery and analysis suggest North Korean soldiers were transported to Russia via naval ships, with covert operations at remote ports like Dunai to avoid detection.
• An estimated 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, with many deployed to the Kursk region to counter Ukrainian advances; around 4,000 have reportedly been killed or injured.
• South Korean intelligence and Western analysts have verified troop movements and highlighted North Korea's growing military role in the conflict.
• North Korean troops are reportedly gaining combat experience and adapting to modern warfare, with implications for Pyongyang's military capabilities.
• Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has officially confirmed the presence of North Korean troops, but intelligence indicates deepening military ties between the two nations.