우크라 정보 당국 “러 파병 북한군 8500명…푸틴, 5만명 추가 요청할 수도”

Russian officials have reported that North Korean troops deployed in Ukraine currently number around 8,500, with several units including special forces, mine-clearance personnel, and drone operators. CNN has cited Ukraine's top intelligence agency, the HUR Center, which details that the deployed North Korean forces, primarily located in the Russian Kursk region, include about 1,000 engineering troops and 400 drone operators.

Many of these drone operators have direct or indirect operational experience from earlier North Korean deployments. The Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Agency's deputy chief, Baim Skibitskiy, emphasizes that the drone operators could be tasked with surveilling and attacking targets inside Ukraine. He also suggests that rather than being directly deployed into Ukrainian territory, the North Korean troops are likely to bolster Russian positions in the Russian rear area, enabling Russian forces to support Ukraine's front line.

Skibitskiy anticipates that Russian President Vladimir Putin may request up to 50,000 additional troops from Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, during their upcoming meeting in September. North Korea began its first deployment to Russia's Kursk region in October 2024, sending approximately 10,000 troops, who inflicted significant casualties using large-scale ambush tactics.

Ukraine currently estimates that the accumulated total of North Korean troops stationed or rotating through Russia in Ukraine is about 25,000. Ukraine believes that the support from North Korea has extended beyond troop deployment to include missile developments. Skibitskiy's deputy asserts that North Korea provided at least 150 KN-23 or KN-24 ballistic missiles to Russia before August last year, with an agreement to supply an additional 120 missiles.

He also notes that North Korea has reportedly received the S-400 air defense system from Russia in exchange for providing troops and ammunition, and they are believed to have received the Panteleimon surface-to-surface missile system.