During a recent televised election debate, Alexander Khinshtein, the acting governor of the Kursk region, revealed that North Korean military engineers are actively assisting Russian forces in demining operations following clashes in the area. The initiative, reportedly aimed at restoring infrastructure damaged by previous conflict, marks a significant collaboration between the two nations, particularly in light of the recent Ukrainian incursions into Russian territory.
Khinshtein indicated that this collaboration is a critical first step towards rebuilding the essential infrastructure that sustained damage during skirmishes in the region. The Russian military has reported that since August 2024, sappers in the Kursk region have successfully cleared over 185,000 mines and explosives. The demining efforts have covered a substantial area, including at least 37,500 hectares of land and approximately 767 kilometers of roads, impacting over 30 settlements in the region.
In a separate but related development, South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun shared at a parliamentary hearing the National Intelligence Service’s assessment that nearly 2,000 North Korean troops deployed to Russia have lost their lives in the ongoing conflict. He further mentioned that North Korea plans to send an additional 6,000 personnel, which includes around 1,000 combat engineers already present in Russia.
The deployments have been acknowledged by North Korean state media, which confirmed the presence of troops in Russia as well as casualties among them. Imagery released showed leader Kim Jong Un meeting with families of soldiers who were killed and those returning from the front lines. This military cooperation stems from a formal defense agreement signed last year during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang, allowing for enhanced collaboration as Russia seeks increased manpower and munitions to support its military efforts.
Western intelligence agencies and South Korean sources estimate that North Korea dispatched more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in 2024, primarily to the strategic Kursk region, alongside artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket systems—all aimed at boosting Russia’s operational capabilities in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
