North Korean military personnel remain deployed in Russia’s Kursk Region, where they are allegedly firing on Ukrainian positions from within Russian territory. This was reported by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, citing publications in Ukrainian media.

According to those reports, the exact number of North Korean troops stationed near Kursk has not been disclosed. However, the contingent is said to be rotating on a regular basis under a bilateral arrangement between Moscow and Pyongyang. The forces reportedly used tube artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems against Ukrainian units, while also conducting aerial and artillery reconnaissance.

At the same time, media sources cited by Yonhap note that some North Korean special forces units have already returned home. Upon their return to the DPRK, these servicemen are reportedly passing on combat experience gained during live operations.

Earlier, in November 2025, Russian military personnel said that North Korean engineers had been involved for several months in mine-clearing operations in the Kursk Region. They stated that language barriers did not hinder cooperation and described the DPRK specialists as disciplined, well-coordinated, and fully prepared for joint work.

The participation of North Korean troops in combat operations on Russian territory was officially confirmed for the first time on April 26, 2025. The announcement was made by Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov during a briefing to President Vladimir Putin on the complete liberation of the Kursk Region. The information was later confirmed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

North Korean forces operated in the Kursk Region under the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. In particular, their presence was linked to Article 4 of the agreement, which предусматривает the immediate provision of military assistance in the event of an armed attack against one of the parties.