Archive · 24 Aug 2026
Seoul Says North Korea Prepares More Russia Troop Deployments
South Korea says North Korea is getting ready to send more soldiers to Russia.
However, South Korea has not seen signs that the soldiers will leave soon.
South Korea also says North Korea has supplied Russia with missiles and many artillery shells.
The countries have worked more closely together since Russia invaded Ukraine.
South Korea believes information from fighting may have helped North Korean missiles become more accurate.
It says some North Korean weapons designed for a possible conflict with South Korea are almost ready.
North Korea’s Hwasong-12 missile is also reportedly being prepared for military use.
North Korea and Russia deny transferring weapons, and Kim Yo Jong denied a claim about sending 50,000 more troops.
South Korea says North Korea is preparing another troop deployment to Russia, but no imminent movement has been detected.
Pyongyang has allegedly continued supplying Russia with weapons, including short-range ballistic missiles and more than 15 million artillery rounds.
South Korea says battlefield data and Russian assistance may have improved the accuracy of North Korean missiles used in Ukraine.
North Korea’s Hwasong-12 missile is reportedly being prepared for operational deployment, while some ballistic missiles and rocket launchers are nearing completion.
Kim Yo Jong denied Ukraine’s claim that North Korea planned to send up to 50,000 additional troops, while Moscow and Pyongyang have denied arms transfers.
- Who
- South Korea’s Defence Ministry assessed North Korea’s military support for Russia; North Korea, Russia, Ukraine and their officials are also involved.
- What
- North Korea is reportedly preparing another troop deployment to Russia and continuing to provide weapons, although no deployment appears imminent.
- When
- The assessment was reported on Aug. 24; the cooperation has expanded since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with reported North Korean troop deployments beginning in 2024.
- Where
- The reported military cooperation involves North Korea and Russia, with North Korean weapons used in the war in Ukraine.
- Why
- The reported support is part of deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia, which Seoul says includes weapons supplies and troops for Russia’s war effort.
South Korean and Ukrainian Assessments
North Korean and Russian Denials
Additional troop deployment
South Korean and Ukrainian Assessments
South Korea says North Korea is preparing another deployment to Russia, while noting that no imminent movement has been detected. Ukraine’s president previously claimed Pyongyang planned to send up to 50,000 more troops.
North Korean and Russian Denials
Kim Yo Jong denied the claim that North Korea planned to send up to 50,000 additional troops.
Weapons transfers
South Korean and Ukrainian Assessments
South Korea says North Korea has supplied Russia with artillery ammunition, missiles and other weapons systems, and that North Korean missiles may have benefited from battlefield data and Russian technical support.
North Korean and Russian Denials
North Korea and Russia have previously denied transferring arms.
- Additional troop deployment
- South Korea says North Korea is continuing preparations, but no imminent deployment has been detected.
- Artillery ammunition
- South Korea estimates North Korea supplied Russia with more than 15 million rounds, measured in 152-millimetre shell equivalents.
- Missile supplies
- North Korea reportedly continued supplying Russia with weapons systems, including short-range ballistic missiles.
- Hwasong-12 status
- The intermediate-range ballistic missile, capable of reaching Guam, is reportedly being prepared for operational deployment.
- Intercontinental missiles
- South Korea says North Korean ICBMs have flight capability to reach the U.S. mainland, but warhead re-entry technology has not been verified.
- Reported cooperation timeline
- South Korean, Ukrainian and Western assessments say North Korea supplied Russia with artillery and missiles since 2023 and deployed troops from 2024.