The North Korean army contingent continues to participate in Russia’s war against Ukraine on the side of the aggressor. As of January 2026, the North Korean military group is located in the Kursk region, from where it carries out attacks on Ukrainian border communities.
This was reported by the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.
It is noted that under Russian command, North Korean soldiers fire tube artillery and multiple launch rocket systems, conduct aerial reconnaissance and artillery spotting, and adjust MLRS strikes.
A focus on mastering drone technologies and gaining experience in conducting modern warfare is a characteristic feature and one of the key objectives of the North Korean army’s participation in the Russia–Ukraine war.
Under the agreements between Moscow and Pyongyang, rotation of servicemen stationed in the Kursk region is carried out regularly. Since the beginning of the North Korean contingent’s participation in the war against Ukraine, about three thousand soldiers have already returned to North Korea—trained and experienced. Most of them become military instructors to pass on the skills of 21st-century warfare to the entire North Korean army.
