North Korean military personnel are still present on russian territory, actively engaged in engineering and fortification tasks in Kursk region. This was confirmed by Vadym Skibitskyi, Deputy Chief of the Defense Intelligence, in an interview with Ukrinform.
According to Vadym Skibitskyi, the core mission of the North Korean soldiers is the construction and reinforcement of defensive lines along the border. Their deployment is organized on a rotational basis, ensuring a continuous North Korean military presence in the area.
Read more: Poland Doubles Production of Piorun MANPADS, Which Are in Active Use in Ukraine
The Defense Intelligence indicates that North Korea's plans go far beyond military deployments. Pyongyang reportedly intends to send thousands of specialists to russia, primarily to gain experience in industrial sectors, including the defense industry. This move reflects a dual-purpose strategy: supporting russia’s war machine while simultaneously acquiring know-how to strengthen North Korea’s own military capabilities.
Vadym Skibitskyi also revealed information about russian efforts to recruit foreign nationals for defense production. One highlighted example is the Yelabuga Special Economic Zone, where Moscow has ambitious plans to massively expand its drone production. What began with around 1,000 employees is now projected to grow into a workforce of 40,000, underlining russia’s heavy reliance on manpower to sustain its drone warfare.
The participation of North Korean forces in russia has already come at a high cost. On September 2, South Korean lawmakers, citing intelligence sources, reported that about 2,000 North Korean soldiers sent to russia to participate in combat operations in Ukraine have been killed.
This figure sharply contrasts with Pyongyang’s own admission of “only” 350 casualties during the first two phases of deployment.
As Defense Express previously reported, a new investigation has revealed fresh evidence of China's indirect role in russia's war effort against Ukraine. Recently, a video surfaced online showing test footage from the Gerbera drone, featuring the A40 Pro camera model manufactured by Chinese company Viewpro.
The video was recorded during a camera test in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, within the Aotexing Science Park located in Nanshan District. This precise geolocation was verified by investigators of CyberBoroshno, who cross-checked the manufacturer's address from the official website with Baidu Maps.
Read more: From Shenzhen to the Battlefield: Video Reveals Chinese Tech on the Gerbera Drone
