On October 16, 2025, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that Democratic People's Republic of Korea soldiers within russia's Kursk region are coordinating reconnaissance for, and enabling, russian strikes into Ukraine. This is the first time DPRK troops have been reported as directly supporting or facilitating russian offensive operations into sovereign Ukrainian territory.
Specifically, DPRK unmanned aerial system operators are reportedly assisting russian forces using multiple launch rocket systems to target Ukrainian positions in Ukraine's Sumy region, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence: russian Advances Shrink as Forces Redeploy Across the Front
Whilst North Korean forces highly likely conducted tactical UAS strikes and reconnaissance UAS operations against Ukrainian forces in russia's Kursk region previously, their primary role was as infantry conducting offensive combat operations against Ukrainian forces within Kursk. DPRK is highly likely seeking to exploit opportunities afforded by the conflict to improve its warfighting capability, including UAS proficiency.
It is highly likely that DPRK forces sustained more than 6,000 casualties in offensive combat operations against Ukrainian forces in the russian region of Kursk, amounting to more than half of the approximately 11,000 DPRK troops initially deployed to the Kursk region.
Any decision to deploy DPRK troops into internationally recognised, sovereign Ukrainian territory in support of russian forces, would almost certainly require sign-off from both russia's President Putin, and DPRK leader Kim Jong Un.
As Defense Express previously reported, in September 2025, russia launched approximately 5,500 one-way attack unmanned aerial systems (OWA UAS) against Ukraine. This is a significant increase on the 4,100 launched in August 2025, which was almost certainly limited due to russia attempting to demonstrate a purported willingness to take part in meaningful negotiations. So far in October 2025, russia has already launched more than 3,000 OWA UAS.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence Explains Why russia Intensifies Drone Strikes Ahead of Winter
