Key facts
- A North Korean missile unit has begun deploying to western Russia.
- The unit may be equipped with up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers.
- Approximately 90 North Korean personnel are part of the missile unit.
- North Korea has previously sent thousands of troops and millions of artillery rounds to Russia.
- North Korea and Russia have a mutual assistance treaty signed in June 2024.
North Korea has significantly escalated its support for Russia's war in Ukraine by deploying a missile unit, marking its most substantial involvement in a conflict since the Korean War in the 1950s. According to a Ukrainian intelligence official, this unit, comprising approximately 90 personnel, is being stationed in Russia's Voronezh region and could be armed with up to 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for potential attacks on Ukraine.
This deployment follows earlier reports and assessments from Ukrainian, US, and South Korean officials indicating that North Korea had sent between 10,000 and 15,000 soldiers to Russia's Kursk region. These troops reportedly engaged in combat operations in April 2025, a move confirmed by both Russia and North Korea, with Russian military commanders praising their role. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had also stated that Russia sought to bring in an additional 30,000 North Korean troops.
Beyond personnel, North Korea has been a major supplier of munitions to Russia. Assessments suggest millions of artillery and mortar rounds, as well as ballistic missiles and multiple-launch rocket systems, have been provided. Specifically, Ukrainian intelligence estimates that North Korea supplied around 4 million artillery shells and 148 ballistic missiles between mid-2023 and the start of 2025. Four Russian-flagged cargo ships reportedly made numerous voyages to North Korea's Rajin port, transporting vast quantities of ammunition.
In June 2025, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu announced plans for North Korea to send 1,000 sappers and 5,000 military construction workers to assist with mine clearance and infrastructure rebuilding in Kursk. South Korean lawmakers, citing intelligence briefings, also indicated that North Korea was recruiting personnel for further deployments while continuing to supply weapons in exchange for economic and technical assistance.
The deepening military ties are underpinned by a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June 2024. This pact includes a mutual assistance provision in case of external aggression. North Korea has framed its support as an act of solidarity with a treaty partner and a "brother nation."