In a recent case uncovered by Ukrainian special forces, North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia were given fake military documents with Russian names and places of birth. This discovery was made during an operation in the Kursk region of western Russia, where three North Korean soldiers were neutralized and their documents seized.
These military identification documents had obvious shortcomings, such as the absence of stamps and photos, patronymic names given in the Russian manner, and the place of birth listed as the Republic of Tuva, a Russian region located in southern Siberia bordering Mongolia. However, the signatures on the documents were in Korean, which clearly indicates the real origin of these soldiers.
Ukrainian authorities have stressed that this case confirms once again Russia’s efforts to conceal its battlefield losses and the presence of foreign fighters. According to estimates by US, Ukrainian and South Korean intelligence, there are between 11,000 and 12,000 North Korean troops deployed in Russia, some of whom have already participated in combat operations alongside Russian forces to retake territory in Kursk captured during a Ukrainian offensive in August.
These North Korean troops have suffered heavy losses, with several hundred killed or wounded, according to official sources. Accusations have been levelled at Russia, accusing it of trying to cover up the involvement of North Korean troops on the ground. Reports indicate that more than 100 North Koreans have been killed and nearly 1,000 wounded since their deployment to the Kursk region.
Ukrainian special forces have reported that in just three days, 50 North Korean soldiers have been killed and 47 wounded fighting alongside Russian troops in Kursk. A Ukrainian unit also reported that North Koreans, wearing different uniforms than the Russians, launched infantry attacks using 70-year-old tactics, in reference to the Korean War.
Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has ever officially acknowledged the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has denounced Russia’s attempts to cover up North Korean battlefield losses, even using extreme tactics to change the identities of North Korean soldiers killed.
Amid rising tensions, the evidence of North Korean soldiers in Russia raises questions about alliances and actions on the ground. The case highlights the complexities of contemporary conflicts and the efforts to conceal the reality of military operations.