North Korean Troops in Russia: Demining Operations Underway

Recent footage from Russia’s Ministry of Defense depicts North Korean soldiers engaged in landmine clearance in the conflict-affected Kursk region. This development marks another step in the growing military collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang.

The video showcases North Korean troops using detection devices and receiving guidance from Russian technicians. Interestingly, they also take part in singing patriotic songs before commencing their tasks. A Russian instructor, identified as Veles, praised the North Koreans for their quick learning and attentiveness. Another commander, Resnik, mentioned that the North Korean personnel operated at a level comparable to his own engineers.

As reported, Russia claims that the deployment of North Korean forces stems from the previous year’s conflict, which played a role in thwarting a significant Ukrainian military effort in western Kursk. Western intelligence assessments indicate that roughly 14,000 North Korean troops are involved under a mutual defense agreement, though the reported number of battlefield casualties—over 6,000—remains unverified.

Moreover, Russia’s Defense Ministry has stated that this demining unit was mobilized at the behest of Chairman Kim Jong Un. The unit is said to have prior experience in similar operations back home and has undergone advanced training facilitated by Russian military units.

Videos from the Defense Ministry show North Korean sappers starting their missions with a display of loyalty to their flag, emphasizing their commitment to follow the Supreme Leader’s directives. Russian officials claim they have trained these troops on contemporary NATO and Ukrainian landmine handling techniques, as well as drone countermeasures.

Reports indicate that North Korean engineers are now utilizing Russian robotic demining technologies, including models like Stalker and Uranium-6. The East-to-West news agency notes that the first batches of several thousand North Korean military engineers have begun operations to clear explosives in the region, primarily to safeguard Russian personnel. Lieutenant General Kirillo Budanov, from Ukraine’s military intelligence, also confirmed the deployment of about 6,000 engineers from North Korea.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy remarked on the estimated arrival of up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers to support Russia, speculating that approximately two-thirds of casualties might be North Korean troops, although verification of any numbers on losses remains unavailable.

According to Krasnaya Zvezda, the Russian and North Korean teams have been facing unprecedented levels of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines allegedly left by Ukrainian forces, with equipment sourced from NATO countries. Many areas remain hazardous, indicated by the report that 37 out of 64 settlements in the Bolshe Soldatsky district are currently inaccessible to civilians due to mines.

Additionally, reports suggest that sappers are under threat from ongoing Ukrainian drone and artillery attacks, but again, this has not been independently verified. Ukraine’s military operations had briefly taken control of parts of Kursk in mid-2024 before being expelled, with Russian President Vladimir Putin later announcing the successful removal of North Korean troops from the region.

In recent statements, Kim Jong Un asserted that the military partnership between North Korea and Russia would “advance uninterruptedly.”