North Korean Troops Desert Russian Frontline Positions in Ukraine: Reports

A group of 18 North Korean soldiers is reportedly on the run after deserting frontline positions in Russia‘s Kursk and Bryansk oblasts, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported. The soldiers were stationed approximately four miles from the Ukrainian border when the incident occurred, and local authorities are allegedly conducting a search to locate them.

Ukrainian intelligence officials, cited by Suspilne, suggested that commanders are attempting to hide the desertion from their superiors. This development follows speculation that Moscow has been employing North Korean troops to support their efforts against Ukrainian forces in the region.

An earlier report by Ukrainian outlet LIGA suggested that these soldiers were intended to be part of a “special Buryat battalion,” named after the Buryat ethnic group native to regions of Siberia, Mongolia, and China. This aligns with ongoing reports of North Korea and Russia strengthening ties.

In an unprecedented move, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea in June, the first such visit in 24 years, where he signed a comprehensive strategic partnership pact with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. This pact includes a mutual defense clause reminiscent of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which asserts that an attack on one member is an attack on all.

South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun recently commented on these developments, noting that “the possibility of such deployment is highly likely,” as reported by South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. He referenced Ukrainian media reports of North Korean casualties in Ukraine during a parliamentary session.

Meanwhile, the Kyiv Post and Interfax-Ukraine have reported the presence of North Korean service personnel in the occupied territories near Donetsk. The Center of National Resistance, linked with Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, indicated that Russian authorities persuaded North Korea to send citizens for construction work in these areas.

This cooperation has raised concerns as North Korea continues to play a significant role in Russia’s ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The United States has accused North Korea of providing artillery supplies to Russia, allegations denied by both Pyongyang and Moscow.

Thus far, reactions from relevant Russian and North Korean diplomatic channels have been limited. Newsweek reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense and North Korea’s Mission to the United Nations for their comments, but no response has been reported yet.