The Tactics Institute for Security and Counter-Terrorism condemned the deployment of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) soldiers to Russia for use on the battlefield against Ukraine. The USA and South Korea have blamed Pyongyang for moving more than 10,000 soldiers to support Russia after Russia and North Korea inked a landmark defence pact this summer. Russia and North Korea have bolstered their military relations since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he had preliminary proof that the Russians have started to use soldiers from North Korea in attacks — a prominent number of them. He stated that the Russians include [North Koreans] in integrated units and stationed them in operations in the Kursk area, where Ukraine has been climbing an incursion since August. 

Direct Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) backing for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine sketches a dangerous growth of the conflict, with serious outcomes for European and Indo-Pacific security. The DPRK’s supplying of ballistic missiles, military materiel, and artillery shells to Moscow for use against Ukraine and Russia’s activity of DPRK soldiers engaging in arms or related materiel symbolises extensive breaches of United Nations Security Council resolutions. 

The Tactics Institute for Security and Counter-Terrorism calls for the withdrawal of the Korean troops from the Russia-Ukraine war. We call for urgent de-escalation on all fronts, throughout the Ukraine region. We urge the the European Union, United Nations, and allied countries, to condemn this unethical action by russia. We urge Moscow to immediately end its war of aggression against Ukraine and end its military partnership with the DPRK.