Report: North Korea Deploys 8,000 Troops to Support Russia Near Ukraine, US Alleges

The United States has reported that approximately 8,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia’s Kursk region, situated near the Ukrainian border. Deputy US Ambassador to the United Nations, Robert Wood, presented this information to the UN Security Council on Thursday, pressing Russia on its stance.

Wood posed a direct question to Russia’s representative: “Does Russia still maintain that there are no DPRK troops in Russia?” referring to North Korea’s official designation, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The Russian delegation, however, did not respond to the inquiry. While Moscow has yet to confirm or deny the presence of North Korean forces, Pyongyang initially rejected the deployment claims but later justified it as compliant with international law.

The reported deployment comes amidst heightened tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. Recently, Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, a development that has intensified hostilities near the Russian-Ukrainian border. US and allied officials from the UK, South Korea, and Ukraine have condemned the alleged deployment as a violation of United Nations resolutions, which prohibit North Korean military involvement due to the nation’s continued nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Further complicating the situation, Ukrainian authorities announced on Wednesday that three North Korean generals are reportedly accompanying the troops stationed in Kursk.

At the Security Council session, a sharp exchange also took place between the US and China over Beijing’s alleged support of Russia’s defense industry. Wood criticized China’s role, stating that its backing of Moscow undermines peace efforts and prolongs the conflict, the largest in Europe since World War II. China’s Deputy UN Ambassador, Geng Shuang, rebutted the US accusations, asserting that China has not provided weaponry to any party involved in the Ukraine conflict and upholds international standards on dual-use items—those with both military and civilian applications.

As part of efforts to tighten enforcement of sanctions related to the Ukraine war, the United States imposed new sanctions on nearly 400 individuals and entities across multiple countries, including China, on Wednesday.