The Traffic

"Russia Secretly Deploys Thousands of North Korean Troops to Support Ukraine War Effort"

By Achimi Muktar

In a stunning new development, Russia has covertly transported over 7,000 North Korean soldiers to bolster its military forces in the ongoing war against Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (DIU), the transfers were executed in the last week of October, using 28 military transport planes operated by Russia's Air Force.

The North Korean troops, reportedly well-armed and battle-ready, were flown from Russia's coastal regions to areas near the frontlines in Ukraine. The soldiers have been supplied with an array of weapons, including 60 mm mortars, AK-12 assault rifles, RPK/PKM machine guns, SVD/SVF sniper rifles, Phoenix anti-tank systems, and RPG-7s. Notably, the Phoenix-2 anti-tank guided missile system, a North Korean version of the Soviet 9M113 Konkurs, is being deployed alongside the Phoenix-1, a counterpart to the Soviet Bassoon.

The soldiers are also equipped with modern battlefield technology, including night vision devices, thermal imagers, collimator sights, and binoculars, making them a formidable force in the conflict. Within Russian ranks, these North Korean troops have earned the nickname “special Buryats,” hinting at their distinctive role and specialized capabilities.

North Korean Troops Trained in Russia’s Far East

Before being deployed to the combat zones, these troops are being trained at five military training grounds in Russia’s far eastern region, including:

Baranovsky in Ussuriysk

Donguz in Ulan-Ude

Yekaterinoslavsky in Yekaterinoslavka

248th in Knyazhe-Volkonskoye

249th in Sergeyevka

The training period lasts several weeks, during which the soldiers receive intensive preparation. According to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, the total number of North Korean troops now stationed in Russia has reached approximately 12,000, with 500 North Korean officers and three high-ranking generals from Pyongyang reportedly overseeing the operation.

Moscow has appointed Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov to manage the integration and training of the North Korean fighters. This covert alliance between Russia and North Korea marks a significant escalation in the conflict, signaling a deeper internationalization of the war.

Ukraine to Request Military Aid from South Korea

In response to these alarming developments, Ukraine plans to formally request military assistance from South Korea. With North Korean soldiers now actively engaged in Russia's war effort, the geopolitical stakes have dramatically heightened, drawing in new actors from both East Asia and beyond.

While North Korea has long been an isolated state, its direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict alongside Russia raises serious questions about the future direction of the war and the potential for further escalation. As global powers respond to this emerging alliance, the world watches anxiously for the next move on the geopolitical chessboard.