North Korea deploys 6,000 engineers to Kursk as military alliance with Russia escalates
By kevinhughes // 2025-11-17
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  • Over 10,000 North Korean soldiers are fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, suffering severe losses (estimated 4,000–6,000 dead). Troops are deployed in high-risk missions like mine-clearing, with Russian commanders praising their effectiveness.
  • North Korea is dispatching 6,000 engineers and construction workers to rebuild Russian-controlled territories, particularly Kursk, where 37 of 64 settlements are uninhabitable due to war damage. These laborers will repair destruction potentially caused by North Korean forces, with more deployments expected by late summer.
  • Kim Jong Un pledged "unconditional support" for Russia's war, including shipments of 12 million artillery shells to sustain Moscow's war effort. In return, Russia may supply advanced military tech (e.g., anti-aircraft missiles, nuclear/ballistic missile tech), violating UN sanctions and destabilizing Northeast Asia.
  • The alliance risks prolonging the Ukraine war, empowering two heavily sanctioned regimes and escalating regional tensions. Potential nuclear/ballistic missile transfers could trigger a dangerous arms race in Northeast Asia.
  • The U.S., South Korea and allies must pressure Russia and North Korea to halt arms deals and troop deployments. Failure to counter this alliance could irreversibly reshape global security dynamics, favoring authoritarian aggression.
In a significant escalation of military cooperation, North Korea is deploying 6,000 engineers and construction workers to Russian-controlled territories, particularly the war-torn Kursk region, while over 10,000 North Korean troops already fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. This move follows Kim Jong Un's pledge of "unconditional support" for Russia's war effort, raising fears of a dangerous arms exchange between the two nations. North Korean soldiers have been thrust into some of the most perilous missions in Ukraine, including clearing deadly minefields left behind by Ukrainian forces. New footage released by Russia's Ministry of Defense shows North Korean troops undergoing training on North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Ukrainian explosive devices, handling Russian demining equipment and singing patriotic songs before operations. Russian commanders have praised their performance, with one officer, call sign "Veles," stating: "They're great lads, they learn quickly, listen attentively and take notes." Another commander, "Lesnik," added: "They are on an equal level with my sappers, carrying out the same tasks as my guys." However, the deployment has come at a steep cost. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that out of 12,000 North Koreans sent to aid Russia, "their losses are more than 4,000. I think two-thirds have died." While exact figures remain unverified, South Korean intelligence sources estimate over 6,000 North Korean casualties, marking one of the deadliest foreign deployments in Pyongyang's history. The latest deployment of 6,000 North Korean engineers signals a shift from combat to reconstruction efforts—effectively repairing damage that North Korean forces may have helped inflict. Reports indicate these laborers will assist in clearing mines and rebuilding infrastructure in Kursk, where 37 of 64 settlements remain uninhabitable due to unexploded ordnance. Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, confirmed the arrival of North Korean engineers, warning that additional deployments could follow by late summer. The Kremlin has framed the assistance as crucial, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating, "We will never forget this help. This work continues. It is dangerous and difficult, but our Korean friends are truly helping us, and we greatly appreciate it."

Russia-North Korea arms trade threatens global security

Beyond boots on the ground, North Korea has reportedly shipped 12 million artillery shells to Russia, sustaining Moscow's war machine despite Western sanctions. In return, intelligence sources suggest Russia may supply Pyongyang with advanced military technology, including anti-aircraft missiles, potentially destabilizing Northeast Asia. Kim Jong Un has vowed that military cooperation with Russia will "advance non-stop," signaling deeper collaboration that could include nuclear or ballistic missile technology transfers. Such a move would violate United Nations sanctions and further isolate both regimes—but with both nations locked in confrontations with the West, the alliance appears unshaken. According to the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, the Russia-North Korea arms trade poses a significant security threat due to several interconnected factors that exacerbate regional instability and global security concerns. The international community must continue to pressure both Russia and North Korea to cease this illicit arms trade and to work towards denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula. The partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang represents one of the most alarming geopolitical developments of the Ukraine war. As North Korean troops continue dying on foreign soil and engineers rebuild Russian-occupied territories, the exchange of weapons and expertise risks prolonging the conflict while empowering two of the world's most sanctioned regimes. With fears mounting over advanced arms deals and further troop deployments, the international community faces a critical challenge in countering this alliance before it reshapes global security dynamics irreversibly. Watch the video below about South Korea responding to North Korean troops in Russia. This video is from the TrendingNews channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: FoxNews.com The-Express.com StraitsTimes.com News18.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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