North Korea officially confirmed on Monday that it has sent combat troops to Russia in support of Moscow’s war against Ukraine, marking the country’s first direct military engagement abroad since the Korean War.

The announcement came as North Korea’s Central Military Commission stated that the deployment aimed to help Russia reclaim the Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces had reportedly seized in a surprise offensive last year. The North’s confirmation follows months of reports from U.S., South Korean, and Ukrainian intelligence that Pyongyang dispatched between 10,000 to 12,000 troops to the conflict.

The statement cited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as ordering the deployment under a mutual defense treaty signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June 2024. The pact, described as the strongest military alliance between the two countries since the Cold War, mandates immediate military assistance should either nation come under attack.

Kim reportedly said the North Korean troops were deployed to “annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers” and to assist Russian forces in “liberating” Kursk. He praised the soldiers as “heroes” and pledged state support for their families. A monument is also planned in Pyongyang to honor the fallen.

While the exact number of deployed troops and casualties was not disclosed, South Korea`s military earlier estimated that around 4,000 North Korean troops had been killed or wounded, with an additional 3,000 sent to the front lines in early 2025. Despite their discipline, North Korean troops are said to have suffered heavy losses due to inexperience and unfamiliar terrain.

Nevertheless, Ukrainian intelligence sources acknowledged that the North Korean forces had gained significant battlefield experience and contributed to Russia’s tactic of mass troop deployment in its campaign to retake Kursk.

South Korea strongly condemned the move, calling it a "grave provocation" and an "act against humanity." The Unification Ministry demanded the immediate withdrawal of North Korean troops from Russian territory.

On Saturday, Russian military chief Valery Gerasimov informed President Putin that Kursk had been fully recaptured with the support of North Korean soldiers, whom he commended for their bravery and professionalism. However, Ukraine’s military countered that defensive operations in parts of Kursk are ongoing.