North Korea has officially confirmed sending military personnel to fight alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast, following direct orders from Kim Jong-un, The Kyiv Independent reported.

According to the state-controlled KCNA outlet, the ruling Workers’ Party characterised this move as a demonstration of the “highest strategic level” of the enduring military alliance between the two nations.

This announcement coincided with a report by RIA Novosti, quoting the acting commander of Russia’s 810th Brigade, who assured President Vladimir Putin that Ukrainian forces in Kursk would be "eliminated shortly." His comments contradicted previous statements from Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, who had claimed that the region was already under full Russian control.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed that clashes in Kursk Oblast remain ongoing.

In August 2024, Ukraine launched a surprise offensive into Kursk, representing the first significant attack by a foreign power on Russian soil since World War II. The campaign aimed to derail an anticipated Russian offensive against Sumy Oblast and to divert attention from Donetsk.

Moscow launched efforts to reclaim the territory in March 2025, forcing Ukrainian units to retreat from several areas, including Sudzha. As of April 25, DeepState, a Ukrainian monitoring group, reported that Ukraine retained control of limited areas near the border, particularly around Oleshnya and Gornal.

The Workers’ Party stated that Kim's decision was based on a 2024 treaty with Russia. Kim commended the North Korean forces, describing them as "heroes." Ukrainian estimates suggest approximately 11,000 North Korean troops were dispatched, including 3,000 reinforcements, with Russia officially recognising their involvement on April 26.

North Korea’s decision to overtly commit troops to Russia marks a bold escalation, signalling a deeper internationalisation of the conflict. The scale of the deployment, while not decisive on its own, reinforces the Kremlin’s narrative of having powerful allies. It is also a development South Korea is closely monitoring, given its security implications for the region.