Pyongyang Deepens Military Support as Russia Strengthens Strategic Alliance
North Korea is significantly expanding its military involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine, with new reports indicating that Pyongyang has deployed a missile unit alongside troops, weapons and ammunition. The growing partnership reflects the deepening strategic alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang while raising concerns about the broader security implications for Europe and the Indo Pacific.
According to a Ukrainian military intelligence official, North Korea has begun deploying a ballistic missile unit to western Russia, marking another escalation in its support for Moscow’s military campaign.
North Korea Reportedly Deploys Missile Unit
A Ukrainian intelligence official said the newly deployed North Korean missile unit consists of around 90 personnel and is expected to operate from Russia’s Voronezh region.
The unit could be equipped with up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers capable of striking targets inside Ukraine.
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Reuters could not independently verify the Ukrainian assessment.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously said Russia was preparing facilities in Voronezh to accommodate thousands of additional North Korean troops.
Thousands of North Korean Troops Already in Russia
Estimates from Ukraine, the United States and South Korea initially suggested that 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Russia in late 2024.
Subsequent intelligence assessments placed the figure between 14,000 and 15,000 personnel, with many operating in Russia’s Kursk region.
Russia and North Korea officially acknowledged in April 2025 that North Korean forces had participated in combat operations against Ukrainian troops in Kursk after months of denying their involvement.
Current Ukrainian estimates suggest approximately 9,500 North Korean soldiers remain stationed in the region.
Additional Personnel Planned
Beyond combat troops, North Korea has also pledged additional military support.
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu announced in June 2025 that Pyongyang would send 1,000 military engineers and 5,000 construction personnel to assist with demining operations and reconstruction work in Kursk.
South Korean intelligence has also reported that North Korea continues recruiting personnel for further deployments while expanding military cooperation with Russia.
North Korea’s Weapons Continue to Supply Russia
North Korea has become one of Russia’s most significant external suppliers of military equipment.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, Pyongyang has delivered approximately 4 million artillery shells since 2023, along with ballistic missiles, long range artillery systems and multiple launch rocket systems.
A Reuters investigation conducted with the Open Source Centre found that Russian cargo vessels transported nearly 16,000 containers of ammunition from North Korea between September 2023 and March 2025.
Ukraine estimates North Korean ammunition now accounts for roughly half of Russia’s artillery requirements on parts of the battlefield.
Why Is North Korea Supporting Russia?
The military cooperation stems from the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June 2024.
The agreement includes mutual assistance commitments in the event either country faces external aggression.
For North Korea, the partnership offers several strategic benefits, including economic assistance, energy supplies, access to advanced Russian military technology and valuable battlefield experience for its armed forces.
Military analysts believe Pyongyang is using the Ukraine conflict to test its missiles, improve battlefield tactics and modernize its military capabilities.
International Concern Continues to Grow
The United States, South Korea and other Western allies argue that North Korea’s troop deployments and weapons transfers violate United Nations Security Council resolutions imposed over Pyongyang’s nuclear and ballistic missile programmes.
Washington has imposed additional sanctions targeting Russian and North Korean entities involved in military cooperation, while NATO has warned that expanding defence ties between Russia, North Korea, China and Iran represent an increasing security challenge extending beyond Europe.
Analysis
North Korea’s growing military role reflects a transformation of the Ukraine war from a regional conflict into a broader strategic contest involving multiple authoritarian powers. While Russia benefits from additional manpower and critical ammunition supplies, Pyongyang is acquiring something potentially more valuable than economic assistance: real battlefield experience, operational testing of its weapons systems and deeper military integration with one of the world’s largest armed forces. This evolving partnership not only strengthens Russia’s war effort but also accelerates North Korea’s military modernization, raising long term security concerns for East Asia, Europe and the wider international community.
With information from Reuters.
