Russian authorities have detained 18 North Korean soldiers who deserted their positions in Kursk Oblast, according to a military intelligence source speaking to the Kyiv Independent on October 21.
Pyongyang, a key ally of Moscow, is reportedly preparing to send around 11,000 troops to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine, with some soldiers already arriving, according to Ukrainian officials.
On October 15, Suspilne reported that 18 North Korean soldiers had abandoned their posts in regions near the Ukrainian border, citing unnamed intelligence sources.
Hromadske further detailed that about 40 North Korean troops had traveled to Russia to exchange military expertise with Russian forces.
Following their training, the 18 soldiers were reportedly left in a forested area of Kursk Oblast for several days without food or clear instructions. On October 14, they abandoned their positions in search of their Russian command.
Two days later, the missing soldiers were located and detained by Russian authorities roughly 60 kilometers (40 miles) from their original location.
South Korean officials confirmed the transfer of North Korean military personnel to Russia, while U.S. Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Michael R. Turner warned that such actions could cross a “red line” for the United States and NATO, urging immediate measures.
On October 18, a video surfaced online allegedly showing North Korean soldiers in a Russian military camp receiving equipment and preparing for deployment against Ukraine.
The deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea has included extensive shipments of artillery shells and ballistic missiles from Pyongyang to Moscow since the onset of the full-scale war.
