In a surprising turn that’s catching global attention, Russia has credited North Korean soldiers with playing a key role in liberating the Kursk Region from Ukrainian forces. Chief of the Russian General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, didn’t mince words as he praised the DPRK servicemen for their “resilience and heroism” during what Moscow is calling a major military success.
Speaking during a report to President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, Gerasimov described how North Korean troops fought “shoulder to shoulder” with Russian forces on the frontlines. And it wasn’t just a token contribution, either — according to Gerasimov, Ukrainian forces suffered staggering losses: over 76,000 casualties, both killed and wounded, during their failed push into Kursk, which began back in August.
President Putin later confirmed that Kursk Region is now completely under Russian control. Still, the work isn’t over. Russian troops are combing the liberated areas to root out any remaining Ukrainian fighters and have started clearing mines from 19 settlements. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to create a security buffer inside neighboring Sumy Region, where Moscow’s forces now hold four settlements and about 90 square kilometers of territory.
Putin didn’t let the moment pass without a few strong words of thanks, praising the soldiers who “defeated the neo-Nazi groups” that tried to seize the region last summer.
The involvement of North Korean troops comes under a new Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang, signed last December. That treaty guarantees mutual military assistance if either side is attacked, with both parties pledging to support each other “by all means available,” in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Interestingly, chatter about North Korean troops started months ago, with U.S. and Ukrainian sources claiming Pyongyang had sent about 12,000 soldiers to Russia. At the time, both Russia and North Korea kept quiet, neither confirming nor denying the reports. Now, with Kursk liberated, it seems the whispers were more than just rumors.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova summed it up best on Telegram: “Russia will never forget our friends.”
One thing’s clear — the Russia-North Korea alliance is no longer just ink on paper. It’s boots on the ground.
It makes no sense, since Russia was already doing quite well. They have been winning the whole time, why would they need NK troops there? Zelenskyy was telling everyone that NK troops were there, it was fake news. Why would it suddenly be real?
Absolutely — that point makes a lot of sense. If Russia has been advancing steadily and maintaining the upper hand, the sudden narrative shift about North Korean troops feels more like a propaganda tactic than a reflection of reality. It’s suspicious that after being dismissed as fake news earlier, the same claim is now being recycled as fact. It raises serious questions about the credibility and consistency of the reporting.