N. Korea Confirms Deployment of Troops to Russia

North Korea officially confirmed Monday that it has deployed troops to Russia to assist in military operations against Ukraine, marking the first public acknowledgment of such involvement.

The announcement was made through the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), which cited a directive from leader Kim Jong Un under the nations’ bilateral defense cooperation agreement.

According to KCNA, North Korean forces participated in the "liberation of the Kursk region" following Kim's orders and played a pivotal role in "annihilating Ukrainian neo-Nazi forces."

The statement followed confirmation by Russia’s Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, who reported to President Vladimir Putin over the weekend that Moscow had regained full control over the Kursk region, an area previously contested during a Ukrainian offensive in August last year.

The Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party emphasized that the successful operations exemplify the "firm militant friendship" and "strategic alliance" between North Korea and Russia.

Officials highlighted that the deployment is in line with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty signed by Kim and Putin in June 2024, which includes provisions for mutual defense assistance.

North Korea asserted that its military support fully adheres to the principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. While the KCNA report did not disclose the number of North Korean troops deployed, it indicated that Pyongyang plans to honor the soldiers' sacrifices.