New data released by the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine sheds light on the extent of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's military assistance to russia, revealing a substantial flow of weapons and personnel that has been ongoing since mid‑2023.
On a request from Apostrophe, Defense Intelligence disclosed that between June 2023 and April 2025 russia received:
Read more: Ukraine's General Staff Reports Heavy russian and north Korean Losses in the Kursk Operation
- 150 KN‑23/24 short‑range ballistic missiles (KN‑23/24);
- 6 million rounds of large‑caliber artillery ammunition, including estimated volumes of 152mm and 122mm artillery shells and 122 mm rocket projectiles;
- 120 self‑propelled howitzers (170mm);
- 120 M‑1991 multiple launch rocket systems (240mm);
- 90 D‑74 towed howitzers (122mm);
- 40 2B11 mortars (120mm).
In addition to materiel, North Korean Special Operations Forces are actively participating in combat operations in russia's Kursk region, marking a rare deployment of the DPRK combat troops outside the Korean Peninsula. Their presence underscores Pyongyang's deepening entanglement in Moscow's war effort.
Beyond military aid, the Defense Intelligence reveals that russia, facing a shortage of low‑skilled labor, is also recruiting North Korean workers for civilian sectors critical to its economy and defense: construction, sewing factories, and even roles within the defense‑industrial complex. This labor pipeline is facilitated through state‑sponsored programs, raising concerns over forced labor practices and the exploitation of North Korean nationals abroad.
The scale and diversity of the DPRK assistance underscore a strategic partnership that extends far beyond symbolic support. Moreover, the deployment of North Korean troops and laborers signals a troubling willingness by both authoritarian regimes to deepen military and economic cooperation, complicating international efforts to isolate Moscow and Pyongyang.
As Defense Express previously reported, as of March 2025, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) forces had highly likely seen over 5,000 casualties in offensive combat operations against Ukrainian forces in Kursk region, with approximately a third of the losses sustained in combat, according to British intelligence.
The total death toll amounts to almost half of the approximately 11,000 DPRK troops initially deployed to Kursk region. Open-source reports suggest the DPRK has subsequently deployed limited numbers of additional troops to Kursk in support. Significant DPRK casualty rates have been sustained primarily through large, highly attritional dismounted assaults.
Read more: Ukrainian Special Forces Annihilate North Korean Platoon in Close Combat in russia's Kursk Region (Video)
