Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia is preparing to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 North Korean soldiers to Russian territory. This follows Zelenskyy's previous estimate in July that 30,000 North Korean soldiers would be stationed in the Voronezh region.
Reports indicate that approximately 14,000 North Korean soldiers have already been sent to the Kursk region of Russia this year. In the autumn of 2024, tens of thousands of North Korean soldiers joined the Russian army in Kursk. One Ukrainian official told Reuters that while approximately 9,500 North Korean soldiers are in the Kursk region, they are not directly involved in operations against Ukraine.
Estimated North Korean casualties, including injuries and deaths, according to South Korean intelligence.
Missile deployments and strikes
A North Korean missile unit has begun deployment to Western Russia. Specifically, the Voronezh region is being prepared to receive the unit. According to Andrii Chernyak, a spokesperson for Ukrainian military intelligence, this unit consists of approximately 90 soldiers and is expected to be integrated into the 112th missile brigade of the Russian armed forces. The unit could be equipped with six launch pads and up to 120 ballistic missiles for attacks on Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy claimed that Russia has received a new batch of ballistic missiles from North Korea. He accused Moscow of using North Korean ballistic missiles during night strikes on the city of Zaporizhzhia, which killed at least six people. The strike occurred during the night of Monday, August 10, to Tuesday, August 11, killing at least six people and injuring 19.
If certain types of missiles reach their targets, their production increases.
North Korean ballistic missiles, specifically the KN-23 (Hwasong-11Ga) and KN-24 models, have been used in strikes on Ukraine. A strike near Radouchne, close to Kryvyï Rih, killed six members of the same family. Jonah Leff, executive director of Conflict Armament Research, told the UN Security Council in December 2024 that the precision of KN-23 missiles is not very high in principle.
Military and economic cooperation
North Korea has supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar shells, as well as ballistic missiles and rocket launchers. An investigation by Important Stories stated that as of March, Russia had already received more than eight million shells. A Bloomberg analysis reported that North Korea is receiving approximately $14 billion in foreign currency from Russia for its deliveries since the start of the invasion.
Russia and North Korea signed a mutual defense/strategic partnership agreement in 2024. In July, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui was received at the Kremlin, where Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude for North Korea's military assistance, according to reports. Additionally, Russia and North Korea are nearing the completion of the first road bridge between the two countries near a trans-border railway line, according to reports.
Casualties and intelligence reports
The South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported that about 600 North Korean troops were killed fighting for Russia against Ukrainian forces. The NIS also stated that approximately 2,000 injured soldiers were repatriated to North Korea by air or train between January and March.
Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated on the Max platform that its attacks targeted military-industrial enterprises and transport/logistics centers in Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia. The Ministry of Defense also claimed that its air defenses intercepted and destroyed 285 Ukrainian drones within a twelve-hour period. Meanwhile, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin stated on Telegram that five drones heading for the capital were shot down.
In a separate development, US President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that he obtained the release of former US Marine Robert Gilman from Russia following discussions with President Putin. A spokesperson for the US Department of State stated in an email that the release of Mr. Gilman was not part of an exchange and no other concessions were made.
