Korean Troops "Stationed" Near the Ukraine Border: Why Does Russia Refuse to Withdraw Them

On February 16, the Ukrainian OBOZ website reported on the involvement and stay of North Korean troops in Russia's war.

North Korean forces have been involved in the Russia-Ukraine conflict since autumn 2024. To date, the number of casualties among the Korean People's Army has reached 6,000, with about 11,000 soldiers still remaining in Russia near the border area of Sumy Oblast in Ukraine.

What role are North Korean troops currently playing in the war against Ukraine, and why do they continue to stay in Kursk Oblast?

How many North Korean soldiers are fighting?

According to South Korean intelligence data, only about 1,100 soldiers have returned to North Korea from Russia since the war began.

Adding the casualties and the troops still stationed in Kursk Oblast, the total number of combatants has exceeded 18,000.

Another important situation is that since the war began, the North Korean military has not directly participated in the occupation of Ukrainian territory, and entering Ukraine is extremely rare.

The cross-border incidents that have been recorded occurred in the border area between Kursk Oblast and Sumy Oblast. It cannot be ruled out that these were accidental crossings or that the Russian command deliberately sent them without the consent of the North Korean commanders.

Currently, the North Korean military is mainly deployed in Kursk Oblast, participating in shelling of Sumy Oblast, using tactical drones, practicing FPV drone control, but not participating in direct combat within Ukraine.

Evidently, this is part of an agreement between Pyongyang and Moscow: North Korean troops will not be used outside Russia. The reason may be that North Korea complies with relevant international restrictions, or Kim Jong-un demanded a high price and set conditions that the Russians could not accept. But the fact is: North Korean soldiers try not to leave Kursk Oblast, at least for now.

North Korean military performance and combat effectiveness in 2024

In June 2024, it was reported that Putin, during his meeting with Kim Jong-un, not only requested ammunition and equipment, but also asked for the deployment of engineering units. At that time, the outside world speculated that Russia might receive 3-4 engineering battalions to compensate for the heavy losses of Russian engineering units.

But in August 2024, when the Ukrainian army launched a surprise attack on Kursk Oblast, it clearly made Putin completely change his needs: he no longer needed engineers, but a large number of infantry. The reason is the same: the Russian defense in Kursk Oblast collapsed, and it was impossible to quickly reinforce.

The involvement of North Korean troops clearly exposed Russia's inability to cope with sudden challenges, even in areas such as manpower, which was previously thought to have no problems. The experts' assertion that "Russia has unlimited human resources" has been completely shattered.

Field experience also allowed the outside world to see that the training level of the North Korean military has been seriously underestimated. When the news of the deployment of North Korean troops to Kursk Oblast first emerged, the Ukrainian media was filled with sensational headlines, claiming that half of the North Korean soldiers had fled, and the rest were addicted to pornographic websites, with no one willing to fight.

The reality is completely different.

North Korean soldiers are brave, fearless, and highly trained, with excellent shooting skills. North Korea has indeed invested heavily in infantry training, not just propaganda. At the same time, the soldiers have received deep ideological indoctrination, and even if injured and unable to evacuate, they choose to commit suicide.

The North Korean military shows very good coordination at the company and platoon levels. Even in situations with insufficient communication and support, their actions are more orderly and efficient than those of the Russian forces. This organizational ability combined with courage and determination allows them to play a role even in areas where the Russian forces have completely collapsed and are completely ineffective.

Ultimately, the North Korean troops played a decisive role in the Russian re-control of parts of Kursk Oblast. Without the support of the North Korean military, it would be difficult for the Russian forces to fully control Kursk Oblast by the end of 2025.

Why Do North Korean Troops Remain in Russia

Logically speaking, since Russia has re-controlled Kursk Oblast, why are the North Korean troops still not withdrawing, with only 1,100 returning home?

The answer is the same as the reason why the North Korean troops were originally sent there: the Russian military is severely short of manpower and cannot fill all the gaps in the front lines. Any place experiencing an emergency situation would immediately weaken the line or even collapse.

If the North Korean troops withdrew from Kursk Oblast tomorrow, the Russian forces would be significantly weakened, not only unable to launch an offensive in Sumy Oblast, but also unable to hold the areas they have already occupied.

Ukrainian General Chief of Staff Alexander Syrskyi pointed out last week: In January of this year, the Russian military experienced serious personnel shortages - the monthly loss exceeded the number of conscripts, with a deficit of 8,000 people.

From the second half of 2025 onwards, the total number of Russian occupying forces no longer increased, stabilizing at 700,000 to 715,000 (including reserves). Since 2022, the Russian military has been able to supplement 110,000 to 130,000 people annually through mobilization.

Evidently, the Russian military is facing a mobilization crisis. Only a strict, repressive full-scale mobilization can solve it.

But the Putin regime is currently not daring to do so, fearing domestic unrest.

Therefore, the North Korean troops remain in Russia, and further reinforcement may even be discussed.

The Russian military is facing a mobilization crisis that has lasted for years. In recent years, the Russian side has barely maintained it through partial mobilization and one-time contract soldier bonuses. But now, fewer and fewer people are willing to go to Ukraine for several million rubles, with a high probability of returning in zinc coffins. For the Putin regime, foreign armies and mercenaries from third countries have become the only hope for continuing this war.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1857262237552640/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.