Alliance of ROGUES—Russia’s “CANNON Fodder”?

North Korea’s deepening military entanglement with Russia brings looming regional repercussions that demand our immediate attention.

At a Glance

• North Korea has deployed approximately 11,000 elite troops to fight for Russia in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials.
• The North Korean forces have reportedly suffered staggering losses, with over 6,000 casualties.
• The deployment is a direct result of the 2024 “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement” between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.
• Russia’s use of these troops signals its own severe mobilization and manpower problems.

Elite North Korean Troops Deployed to Ukraine

North Korea has dramatically deepened its involvement in the war in Ukraine, dispatching approximately 11,000 elite troops to fight alongside Russian forces, according to recent Ukrainian intelligence assessments. The soldiers are reportedly drawn from Kim Jong Un’s “personal reserve” force, indicating that North Korea is sending some of its best-trained units, not just conscripts, to the front lines.

This direct military intervention is seen as a consequence of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement” signed by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang in June 2024, a pact that includes a mutual defense clause requiring each nation to provide immediate military assistance if the other is attacked.

A Brutal Battlefield and Staggering Losses

Since their deployment, the North Korean troops have reportedly been used as “cannon fodder” in costly frontal assaults and have suffered devastating casualties. According to a report from the Kyiv Independent, former Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that the North Korean contingent has already sustained over 6,000 casualties, a staggering loss rate of more than 50%.

The high attrition rate raises serious questions about the long-term viability of the deployment and the impact it could have on the stability of Kim Jong Un’s regime if his elite forces continue to be decimated in Ukraine.

A Sign of Russian Desperation

Ukrainian and Western officials view Russia’s increasing reliance on North Korean soldiers as a clear sign of its own severe manpower and mobilization problems. After more than three years of a grinding, high-casualty war, Moscow is turning to other rogue states to fill its depleted ranks.

“Russia’s use of elite North Korean troops demonstrates not only a growing reliance on totalitarian regimes but also serious problems with its mobilization reserve,” Umerov said. This alliance provides Russia with much-needed battlefield reinforcements, while North Korea gains valuable modern combat experience and likely receives technological assistance from Moscow for its missile and satellite programs in return.

The deepening military cooperation between the two pariah states is raising alarms across the globe. As reported by Reuters, South Korean intelligence has warned that Pyongyang may be preparing to send even more troops to Russia in the coming months, a move that would further escalate the conflict and pose a grave threat to regional and global security.