North Korean Involvement in Ukraine Conflict: Reports of Engineers and Casualties

Reports have emerged indicating North Korean military engineers are actively supporting Russian operations in Ukraine through the targeting of ballistic missiles, according to senior officials from both Kyiv and Seoul. Collaborating with Russia, North Korean engineers are believed to operate behind Russian lines, a source informed the Guardian. These engineers reportedly support launcher systems for KN-23 missiles, a short-range ballistic missile comparable to Russia’s Iskander-M missiles.

The Guardian’s source stated there are “dozens” of North Korean personnel integrated into these operations. In addition, recent reports suggest that some North Korean individuals were killed following a missile strike by Ukrainian forces near Donetsk, a claim supported by officials from South Korea and Ukraine. It remains unclear if those killed were military engineers or other forms of personnel.

In a statement to MPs, South Korea’s Defence Minister Kim Yong-Hyun asserted it is “highly likely” that North Korean officers have been deployed to the Ukrainian frontline. Following a Ukrainian missile strike, several of these officers were reportedly among the casualties. Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, confirmed North Korean fatalities in a post via Telegram.

North Korean artillery shells and missiles have reportedly played a crucial role in aiding Russian advancements in eastern Ukraine. A Ukrainian source estimated that North Korea has supplied approximately half of the larger-caliber ammunition used this year, totaling over two million rounds. These contributions occur amidst deepening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, further solidified by recent high-level meetings.

Lim Eul-Chul, a professor at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies in Seoul, commented to AFP, “For North Korea, it’s crucial to learn how to handle different weapons and gain real-world combat experience.” The deployment of Korean soldiers, should it be confirmed, represents a significant development, as it would mark the first instance of foreign government troops in uniform supporting Moscow’s efforts in Ukraine.

Moscow and Pyongyang have publicly denied weapons sales, despite celebrating robust diplomatic relations recently. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has maintained active communication with Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he described as his “closest comrade” in a recent birthday message.