Kim Jong Un Deploys North Korean Sappers to Russia’s Kursk to Clear Deadly Minefields, Deepening Military Ties

Overview

New images released by the Russian defense ministry show North Korean military engineers working to clear landmines in the war-damaged Kursk region of western Russia. The photos and official Russian statements underscore growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, but several key claims — including troop numbers and casualty figures — remain unverified by independent sources.

What the images show

The released photos depict North Korean sappers using detection equipment, receiving instruction from Russian engineering units and performing ceremonial acts before missions. Russian instructors are quoted praising the North Koreans' discipline and skill. According to Russian outlets, the sappers trained with Russian forces and are operating alongside Russian teams.

Russian officers quoted in state channels described the North Korean engineers as "learning quickly" and "operating on an equal level" with Russian sappers.

Numbers, casualties and verification

Multiple sources have offered differing figures. Reuters and several Western and regional sources reported claims that roughly 14,000 North Korean personnel were sent to support operations under a mutual defence understanding, with some reports alleging thousands of battlefield deaths. Ukrainian and Western officials have given lower figures for deployments in some accounts; the Pentagon has confirmed that North Korea has sent troops to Russia. Independent verification of the exact troop counts and casualty numbers is currently lacking.

Operational details reported

Russian statements say North Korean engineers were ordered to the Kursk region by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and that they received additional training from the Russian Engineering Troops. State media and military outlets claim the teams are operating robotic demining platforms such as the Stalker and the Uran-6 and have been taught to handle what they describe as "NATO and Ukrainian" mines and to counter drones.

Battlefield conditions and risks

Russian military reporting describes a high density of anti-tank and antipersonnel mines across parts of the Bolshesoldatsky district and says many settlements remain closed to civilians. Those outlets also report that sappers have come under artillery and drone fire. Reuters and other independent news agencies were unable to verify these battlefield conditions at the time of reporting.

Implications and reactions

The deployment, if confirmed at scale, points to deeper military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and raises international concern about the transfer of personnel, training and technology amid an active conflict. Kyiv and Western governments have publicly questioned some Russian and North Korean claims and called for independent verification of troop movements and casualty reports.

Sources and uncertainties

This account draws on images and statements from the Russian defense ministry and affiliated outlets, reporting from Reuters, statements from Ukrainian officials including President Volodymyr Zelensky and intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, and confirmation from U.S. officials that North Korean personnel are present in Russia. Many operational details and casualty figures in various reports remain unverified; readers should treat contested numbers and some claims as provisional until corroborated by independent observers.

What to watch next: independent verification of troop numbers and casualties, additional imagery or on-the-ground reporting from neutral observers, and official statements from the governments involved or international monitoring bodies.