Ukraine: "North Korean Troops Deployed in Russia's Southwestern Kursk... Sighted on the 23rd"

A report has emerged that the first North Korean troops trained in Russia have been deployed to battlefields including Kursk on the Russian mainland.

Ukrainian media on the 24th (local time) cited the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, reporting that North Korean troops were spotted in Kursk, where Ukrainian forces are conducting operations, the day before. It is estimated that about 12,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia, including 3 generals and 500 officers. They have been confirmed to be training at five bases in eastern Russia: Ussuriysk, Ulan-Ude, Katerinoslavska, Knyazhevolkonskoye, and Sergeyevka.

The Ukrainian military explained that Russia appointed Yunusbek Yevkurov, Deputy Minister of Defense, as the person responsible for training and controlling the North Korean troops, and that the North Korean soldiers have several weeks to train before being deployed to the battlefield. The North Korean soldiers were supplied with ammunition, bedding, cold-weather clothing, and hygiene products. Additionally, according to Russian military regulations, they receive 50 meters of toilet paper and 300 grams of soap per month.

Kursk in southwestern Russia is a border area where Ukrainian forces entered on August 6 and occupied some territory, engaging in combat with Russian forces. Ukraine and the West estimate that Russia has deployed about 50,000 troops to defend Kursk. Kirilo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian military intelligence agency, also stated in various media interviews on the 22nd that North Korean troops would be deployed toward Kursk on the 23rd.

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed at the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit closing press conference that Russian forces have encircled 2,000 Ukrainian troops in Kursk and have "begun eliminating them." Earlier, Japan's Kyodo News, citing Ukrainian military sources, reported that about 2,000 North Korean soldiers had completed training and were moving to western Russia near the Ukrainian border.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service stated at a National Assembly intelligence committee briefing that the number of North Korean troops moved to Russia has reached about 3,000 so far, and the total deployment is expected to reach 10,000 by December.