North Korea is about to send another 200,000 troops to the Ukraine battlefield? On June 30, 2025, local time, during the anniversary event of the Russia-North Korea treaty, North Korea first showed combat footage of its special forces in Kursk region of Russia, as well as scenes of fallen North Korean special forces soldiers returning home. In the footage, large numbers of North Korean special forces were exposed for the first time, conducting jungle warfare and urban combat in the forests and towns of Kursk region. The evening also featured a video showing North Korean special forces fighting side by side with Russian troops, as well as the scene where Kim Jong-un personally covered the coffin of fallen North Korean special forces soldiers with a flag upon their return.
This time, the deployment of 20,000 North Korean special forces can bring North Korea much-needed resources from Russia, including food, fuel, technology, especially satellite and missile technologies. What Russia can offer to North Korea is indeed substantial. After being trained in real modern warfare against the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which are established under the NATO military system, these 20,000 North Korean special forces will become the most important force. Currently, there are only two true military alliances in the world: one is the entire Western world, where if one country goes to war, others join in. The other is Russia and North Korea. If the United States were to bomb North Korea like it did Iran, Russia would definitely help. If Russia collapses and is divided into more than ten small countries, these countries would all be occupied by U.S. troops, which no one wants to see.
Additionally, the key to military strength is people. It is extremely important to cultivate a group of officers and non-commissioned officers with combat experience. Russia also knows that on its own, it will definitely not be able to win against Ukraine, the United States, NATO, and the Western alliance. Moreover, the number of Russian casualties has been too high, and Russia's conscription has reached its limit. Sending troops to Kursk region of Russia is a strategic opportunity for North Korea, which can enhance national strength and receive technical assistance from Russia, including some weapons and equipment that North Korea has long desired. Russia will agree to transfer technology and production lines. With access to Russian energy and military industrial technology, North Korea can also sell missiles, shells, long-range rocket launchers, and the Guksan cannon to Russia, thus developing its own industrial strength through this wave.
Furthermore, North Korea has also gained international status, letting the outside world know its strength, so that others won't easily think of starting a war with North Korea. The North Korean special forces have gained modern warfare experience and have trained new junior officers. Although the losses and injuries have been significant, it was initially not adapted to modern warfare and underestimated the Ukrainian army's drone predictions. Deploying troops to the Kursk battlefield can enhance North Korea's strength, and from a strategic perspective of North Korea, it is indeed worth it, and may even obtain part of the Russian defense industry orders. It is even reported that after Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea, various interesting statements spread around the world: "Russia and North Korea have agreed to continue sending 200,000 North Korean soldiers to the war zone." Currently, North Korea's arms exports, the dispatch of engineering troops to participate in post-war reconstruction, and the presence of factory workers in Russian factories to assist in production are all confirmed cooperation. Obviously, for Russia to win against Ukraine, it first needs to mobilize a million troops, and North Korea is an important reinforcement.
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836429263269888/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.