Wait, are they actually there? If you’ve been scrolling through news feeds lately, you’ve probably seen the headlines about North Korean troops showing up on European soil. It sounds like a plot from a Cold War thriller, but for the people on the ground in the Kursk region and eastern Ukraine, it’s a very weird, very grim reality.
So, let's get into it. Is North Korea in Ukraine? Sorta, but it’s mostly Russia. Honestly, the distinction is getting blurry. While the bulk of the fighting happens on what is technically Russian territory (like Kursk), these soldiers are functionally part of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
By early 2026, the situation has shifted from "hushed rumors" to "documented fact." We aren't just talking about a few advisors or technicians anymore. We are talking about thousands of young men from the Hermit Kingdom finding themselves in a muddy trench thousands of miles from Pyongyang.
What North Korean Troops Are Actually Doing
It isn't just about shooting. That’s the first thing people get wrong. While there are elite units involved—specifically the "Storm Corps"—a lot of the work is reportedly much more "manual."
Think landmines.
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In late 2025, reports surfaced that Kim Jong Un’s soldiers were being used for high-risk landmine clearing operations. It’s dangerous, exhausting work that preserves Russian manpower. Beyond that, they’ve been integrated into Russian units, often wearing Russian uniforms and carrying fake IDs to keep things "quiet," even though everyone knows they’re there.
The Numbers That Matter
How many are we talking? Intelligence from Seoul and Washington puts the number at roughly 11,000 to 15,000 soldiers.
- 1,500 special forces were the first to arrive in late 2024.
- By mid-2025, casualty counts started climbing.
- South Korean lawmakers recently estimated that around 600 North Koreans have died in the conflict so far.
- Total casualties (killed and wounded) are estimated at nearly 5,000.
These aren't just statistics. These are 19-year-olds who have never seen the internet, suddenly being hunted by Ukrainian FPV drones. It's a massive culture shock, to say the least.
Why Kim Jong Un Is Doing This
You might wonder why Kim would send his best guys to die in a war that has nothing to do with the Korean Peninsula. He isn't doing it for fun. He’s doing it for a very specific shopping list.
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Basically, Russia is paying. Not just in cash—though the rubles definitely help the North's struggling economy—but in technology. We are talking about the "good stuff": satellite tech, submarine modules, and help with nuclear missile reentry.
In September 2025, intelligence indicated that Russia likely transferred several modules needed for Pyongyang’s nuclear-powered submarines. That’s a huge deal. It’s a trade-off: North Korean "cannon fodder" in exchange for the tech needed to threaten the US mainland more effectively.
The "Experience" Factor
There's also the "testing ground" aspect. The North Korean military (KPA) hasn't fought a real war in decades. By sending troops to Ukraine, Kim gets a front-row seat to modern warfare. His generals are learning how to deal with Starlink, how to hide from thermal drones, and how to use Western-supplied artillery.
It’s a terrifyingly efficient way to upgrade a military that was previously stuck in the 1970s.
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The Monument in Kursk
Here is a detail that feels surreal: there is now a monument to North Korean soldiers in Russia.
In December 2025, the Governor of the Kursk Oblast, Alexander Khinshtein, announced a memorial dedicated to the "combat brotherhood" of the DPRK and Russia. It’s a permanent mark of this alliance. It’s no longer a secret. In his 2026 New Year’s message, Kim Jong Un himself praised his men fighting in an "alien land," basically admitting the whole thing to his own people for the first time.
What This Means for You
The fact that North Korea is in Ukraine (or right on the edge of it) changes the "world war" math. It’s no longer a European conflict. It’s a global one.
If you’re worried about where this goes next, keep an eye on South Korea. For a long time, Seoul refused to send weapons directly to Ukraine. But with North Korean soldiers gaining combat experience and Russian tech flowing into Pyongyang, that "no-weapons" policy is under massive internal pressure.
What to do now:
- Stay skeptical of "ghost" reports: You’ll see TikToks claiming 50,000 North Koreans are marching on Kyiv. They aren't. The numbers are closer to 12,000-15,000 and they are mostly used in the Kursk region.
- Watch the tech transfers: The real danger isn't the 15,000 soldiers; it’s the Russian scientists moving to North Korea in exchange for those soldiers.
- Follow the NIS: The South Korean National Intelligence Service (NIS) has been the most accurate source for this specific side of the war. If they release a report, pay attention.
The reality is that the "Hermit Kingdom" isn't so hermit-like anymore. They've picked a side, and they’re all in.