North Korea confirms deployment of troops in Russia: they helped liberate Kursk region

North Korea today officially confirmed for the first time that its troops have been deployed on Russian territory to help Russian forces regain control of the Kursk region, which was seized by Ukrainian forces in the summer of 2024. The news, published by North Korea's state-run KCNA news agency, marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing war in Ukraine and raises fears of further escalation of the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea for its support.

According to a KCNA report, North Korean soldiers fought alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region, which is close to the Ukrainian border. This area was seized by Ukrainian forces in the summer of 2024 in a surprise offensive designed to weaken Russian positions and demonstrate Ukraine's ability to wage war directly on Russian territory. However, Russia has counterattacked in recent weeks, and on 26 April 2025 the Kremlin announced that it had completely "liberated" the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces.

North Korea stressed in its statement that its soldiers played a key role in "restoring Russia's territorial integrity". This open support for Russia by Pyongyang is seen as evidence of growing military cooperation between the two countries, both of which are under sanctions from the so-called West. In response to this assistance, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the troops of the Korean People's Army. Putin praised their "heroism, excellent training and determination" as they fought "side by side with Russian soldiers" and defended Russia "as their homeland".

The news of the deployment of North Korean troops sparked immediate reactions on the international scene. AFP reported today that the Kremlin had expressed readiness to negotiate with Ukraine to end the conflict, contrasting with the tougher rhetoric of recent months. At the same time, however, US President Donald Trump, who met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome, hinted that Zelensky might be willing to give up Crimea to Russia, although the Ukrainian president has repeatedly rejected such a move. This remark by Trump has sparked speculation about a possible shift in US policy towards the conflict.

gnews.cz