In a recent development, a Ukrainian official and two American officials disclosed that thousands of North Korean soldiers began arriving in Russia’s western Kursk region starting October 23. They’re anticipated to assemble a force of 5,000 by October 28, reportedly to assist in combating Ukrainian troops. Correspondingly, on the messaging platform Telegram, a document purportedly issued by the Ukrainian military has surfaced, detailing a “Korean Phrasebook” designed for interactions with North Korean soldiers when they are encountered or captured.
According to a report by The New York Times, South Korean and Ukrainian governments have been warning for weeks about the training of thousands of North Korean troops alongside Russian forces, with estimates suggesting their numbers could reach as high as 12,000. However, these troops have not yet officially engaged in combat, and their specific role in the ongoing conflict remains unclear.
An anonymous Ukrainian official indicated that these soldiers belong to elite units of the Korean People’s Army. They reportedly traveled by Il-76 transport planes from Vladivostok to a military airbase in western Russia before being deployed to the front lines. As for the possibility of more North Korean troops being sent to Ukraine, current signs are mixed; at this stage, they are primarily concentrated in the Kursk region.
The Times emphasizes that North Korean forces have not participated in any military engagements since the 1950s, and there are lingering doubts about the capability of their elite units. Challenges such as language barriers, unfamiliar terrain, and differing military practices could pose significant obstacles. Should they be deployed to the Kursk front, they would face seasoned Ukrainian soldiers, who have successfully repelled Russian advances since an unexpected counteroffensive began in August.
Military analyst Emil Kastehelmi from Finland’s Blackbird Group expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of North Korean troops as a fighting force, though he noted that this may not be the primary concern. “From the Russian perspective, the key is that someone must die on the battlefield, and ideally, that person would not be Russian,” he stated.
Additionally, South Korea’s YTN News and Maeil Business Newspaper report that pro-Russian Telegram accounts have circulated three images of what is said to be a Ukrainian-created “Korean Phrasebook.” The document appears to be instructions for the Ukrainian forces regarding interactions with North Korean soldiers.
The Ukrainian phrases included in the document have been translated into Korean, with their phonetic pronunciations inscribed using the Cyrillic alphabet. Among the 60 phrases are instructions such as “Surrender,” “What is your mission?” “Ukraine adheres to the Geneva Conventions,” as well as expressions like “Are you hungry?” and “Do not lie,” though the authenticity of the document has yet to be verified.
