In a recent development, the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security shared video footage online showing North Korean soldiers receiving military uniforms, Russian weapons, and fake identification from Russian military personnel. These soldiers are posing as Russian troops from Siberia and are expected to be deployed to the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine war after completing their training.
On October 18, South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reported that around 1,500 members of North Korea’s special forces had arrived in Vladivostok for adaptation training in preparation for participating in Russia’s military actions against Ukraine. Videos claiming to show these training sessions have circulated online, seemingly confirming the report.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, currently in Naples, Italy, responded to these claims on October 19, stating that he could not confirm the reports at this time. However, he acknowledged that if the reports are true, it would be concerning.
Mike Turner, the Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a Republican representative, cautioned that this situation crosses a critical line for the U.S. and NATO. He indicated that North Korean troops launching attacks on Ukraine, whether from Russia or within Ukraine itself, constitutes a serious escalation. Turner has reached out to President Biden, urging the White House to provide updates, emphasizing that if it proves true that North Korea is sending troops to assist Russia, it would drastically escalate the conflict and demand an immediate response from the U.S. and NATO.
According to South Korean intelligence, North Korea plans to send its elite “11th Corps”—also known as the Storm Corps—comprising about 12,000 troops to aid Russia. Earlier reports from Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, suggested that approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers are currently undergoing training in Russia and are expected to join Russian forces starting November 1.
The recent training involved 1,500 North Korean special forces, who traveled from areas in North Korea near Chongjin, Hamhung, and Wonsan to Vladivostok aboard vessels from the Russian Pacific Fleet between October 8 and 13. They received Russian military uniforms, weapons, and false identifications to disguise themselves as Russian soldiers. It is anticipated that a second group will depart for training soon.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte expressed caution, stating that it is still unclear whether North Korea has sent regular military forces into the Russia-Ukraine conflict and that further verification is needed.
Meanwhile, the video from the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications purportedly shows North Korean soldiers lining up to receive supplies from Russian military personnel at a training center in Russia’s Far East. In one clip, a soldier speaks with a North Korean accent, saying phrases like “come out” and “don’t fall.”
Additionally, another video identified by CNN shows the troops arriving at the Sergeevka Training Ground, located near the Russian-Chinese border.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously accused North Korea of sending troops and supplying weapons to Russia, a claim that the Russian government has denied as misinformation. The release of these videos seems aimed at substantiating Zelensky’s accusations.
Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, clarified that the North Korean soldiers being dispatched are not mercenaries, but regular members of the North Korean People’s Army. He criticized Russia for dragging North Korea into the Russia-Ukraine conflict and positioning it as an active participant.
As of now, neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has commented on these developments.
North Korea boasts an army of 1.2 million personnel, making it one of the largest military forces in the world; however, the majority lack combat experience. If confirmed that Pyongyang is assisting Russia in its assault on Ukraine, it would mark its significant intervention in international conflict for the first time.
