Russian authorities have taken into custody 18 North Korean soldiers who abandoned their posts in Kursk Oblast, a military intelligence source revealed to the Kyiv Independent. This development comes as Pyongyang prepares to deploy approximately 11,000 troops to support Russia’s war effort in Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian officials, some North Korean soldiers have already arrived in Russia. Suspilne reported that 18 soldiers deserted their positions near the Ukrainian border, citing unnamed intelligence sources. Hromadske added that around 40 North Korean troops traveled to Russia for military expertise exchange.
The 18 detained soldiers were left in a forested area without food or clear instructions. After several days, they abandoned their positions in search of their Russian command on October 14. Russian authorities located and detained them two days later, about 60 kilometers from their original location.
South Korean officials confirmed the transfer of North Korean military personnel to Russia. U.S. Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Michael R. Turner warned that this cooperation could cross a “red line” for the United States and NATO, urging immediate action.
A video surfaced online showing North Korean soldiers in a Russian military camp receiving equipment and preparing for deployment against Ukraine. Russia and North Korea’s deepening military cooperation includes extensive artillery shell and ballistic missile shipments from Pyongyang to Moscow.
As tensions escalate, international concern grows over the implications of this cooperation. The detention of North Korean deserters highlights the complexities of Russia’s alliance with Pyongyang and its potential consequences for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
