Ukraine Conflict: Russia admits North Koreans are fighting in Kursk, which it claims to control, and announces short ceasefire

Footage showing North Korean troops training in Russia, published on 28 April. (TV Zvezda/Russian MoD)

During the last week of April, Russia admitted North Koreans are fighting in Kursk, which it claims to control, and announced a 72-hour ceasefire on 8-10 May. In his 26 April report to President Vladimir Putin, Russian Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov confirmed the involvement of North Koreans in Russia's embattled Kursk region.

Gen Gerasimov said, “I wish to note the participation, in liberating specific border areas of the Kursk region, the soldiers of the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] who, in accordance with the Agreement on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our countries, provided significant assistance in defeating the wedged-in group of Ukrainian armed forces. Soldiers and officers of the DPRK armed forces...demonstrated professionalism and during battle showed bravery, fortitude and heroism.”

On 28 April, North Korean officials confirmed the deployment of their troops in support of Russian operations in Ukraine.

Also on 28 April, Russian military TV Zvezda showed video footage of at least 30 North Korean soldiers conducting weapon training supervised by Russian servicemen, possibly in the Kursk Oblast. The individuals also practised trench warfare and throwing hand grenades. The footage showed North Korean troops in Russian military fatigues using Russian weapons including AK-12 (2019) assault rifles, VPO-205-00 (Vepr-12) self-loading shotguns, RPG-7V2 rocket-propelled grenades with PG-7VR warheads, and SVDS precision rifles.

Janes noted a Russian instructor in the video wearing the patch of the 83rd Independent Guards Air Assault Brigade from the Ussuriysk Base, Primorsky Krai, and known to be deployed in the Kursk Oblast and sighted in the area of Nikolaevo-Darino in January. This corroborated a previous Janes