North Korean workers are allegedly being deployed to Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine to support reconstruction efforts amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. Reports suggest that laborers from North Korea began arriving in areas like Donetsk and Luhansk as early as late 2023, strengthening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.
This collaboration is said to have been a mutually beneficial agreement, as Russia gains much-needed manpower for its war-stricken regions, while North Korea secures financial support and bolsters its alliance with a key geopolitical partner.
“I believe that North Korea’s involvement is chiefly motivated by, one, the desire of North Korea to reinforce its military alliance with Russia, its most reliable ally against the United States,” Tyler Castano (12), AP Research student, said. “And, two, the wish to promote an image of military strength and readiness on the global stage.”
South Korean officials estimate that over 1,000 North Korean troops have already been killed or wounded in the conflict, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cited as many as 3,000 casualties among the North Korean contingent. Many of these troops are believed to be stationed in regions like Kursk, where heavy fighting continues. If confirmed, this deployment represents a significant escalation in North Korea’s involvement in the war and signals its willingness to move beyond symbolic support to active military engagement.
This development not only marked a significant turning point for North Korea’s military engagement but has also sparked significant concern among human rights organizations. North Korean laborers abroad are often subjected to exploitative conditions, with a substantial portion of their wages reportedly redirected to the regime.
“I think that it is very unfair and unjust for these North Korean troops to experience all this in Ukraine, especially given that they were uninformed about any of this happening,” Nabin Won (9), Seoulite reporter, said. “They should not have been sent to the war in the first place, and I hope that more laws will be placed to protect these citizens from exploitation.”
In response to growing evidence of North Korean troops in Ukraine, Russia has denied the reports, instead asserting that the soldiers seen in photos and videos were ethnic Mongolian Russian volunteers. To further solidify this narrative, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented ethnic Mongolian figures during his year-end press conference on Dec. 19, emphasizing their participation as part of Russia’s internal military mobilization efforts.
