Russia wants 30,000 more North Korean troops as military alliance deepens

Russia is seeking a further 30,000 North Korean troops to bolster its war effort in Ukraine, in what would mark the biggest expansion yet of the growing military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang.

The revelation was made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said Russia has been preparing to receive the additional soldiers since June, with facilities being readied in the Voronezh region, south of Moscow.

Zelenskyy also claimed North Korea is preparing to transfer additional ballistic missile launchers to Russia, further strengthening the Kremlin’s ability to wage its more than four-year war.

If confirmed, the deployment would more than double the number of North Korean troops already believed to have fought alongside Russian forces. Around 14,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to Russia’s Kursk region under the two countries’ mutual defence treaty after Ukraine launched its cross-border offensive in 2024.

The latest request would add to what has already become one of Russia’s most important wartime partnerships. Western intelligence agencies estimate North Korea has supplied millions of artillery shells that now account for a substantial proportion of Russia’s ammunition expenditure on the battlefield. Pyongyang has also delivered short-range ballistic missiles, hundreds of artillery systems, including self-propelled guns and multiple-launch rocket systems, and other military equipment that has enabled Russia to sustain its campaign despite Western sanctions.

Military analysts say the additional 30,000 troops would help Russia compensate for heavy battlefield losses while avoiding another politically unpopular wave of domestic mobilisation. North Korean forces could be used to reinforce depleted Russian formations, free up experienced Russian troops for offensive operations, or help secure rear areas and logistics hubs.

The partnership has proved beneficial for both sides. Russia gains access to a large stockpile of Soviet-calibre ammunition and disciplined manpower, while North Korea receives food, fuel, foreign currency and access to advanced Russian military technology. Western and South Korean intelligence agencies believe Moscow has shared expertise in satellite technology, missile guidance, aerospace engineering and air defence systems, helping Kim Jong Un modernise his armed forces.

For North Korea, the war has also become a valuable training ground. Its soldiers are gaining first-hand experience of modern, high-intensity warfare, including defending against drones, operating alongside electronic warfare units and fighting on one of the most technologically advanced battlefields in history.

Zelenskyy warned that the growing military relationship poses a threat extending well beyond Europe.

“Russia is helping North Korea learn war, improve its weapons and gain real combat experience,” he said, arguing that the knowledge acquired in Ukraine could ultimately threaten countries across East Asia within range of North Korean missiles.

South Korea said it is closely monitoring reports of another troop deployment but stopped short of independently confirming Zelenskyy’s claims. Seoul has repeatedly warned that expanding military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang violates United Nations sanctions and risks destabilising security across the Korean Peninsula.

Neither Russia nor North Korea has commented publicly on the latest allegations. However, both governments have openly acknowledged their deepening strategic partnership since signing a comprehensive defence treaty in June 2024. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his North Korean counterpart met in Moscow only last week, reaffirming their commitment to closer military cooperation.

The reported request comes as Russia continues to press its offensive across eastern Ukraine while Kyiv intensifies long-range drone strikes against military targets deep inside Russian territory.

Should another 30,000 North Korean troops be deployed, it would represent another major step in the internationalisation of the conflict. What began as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has increasingly become a proxy conflict involving multiple outside powers, with North Korea supplying troops, missiles and ammunition, Iran providing drones and missile technology, and Western nations continuing to arm and finance Kyiv.

For President Vladimir Putin, North Korea has become an increasingly valuable military partner capable of supplying both weapons and manpower. For Kim Jong Un, the conflict offers an opportunity to earn hard currency, secure advanced military technology and give his armed forces invaluable combat experience that could shape the future balance of power in north-east Asia.