North Korean troops deployed to Russia are adapting quickly, gaining firsthand experience in modern warfare with Russian military support—an alarming development that could reshape security dynamics in East Asia, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief has warned.
“Despite heavy casualties, North Korean forces remain actively engaged in joint operations with Russian troops,” Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR), said in an exclusive interview with The Chosun Ilbo inside a bunker on the outskirts of Kyiv.
“This war has mobilized the full military capabilities of the nations involved. Only three countries—Ukraine, Russia, and North Korea—are gaining direct experience in full-scale 21st-century warfare. The North Korean military of the future will be fundamentally different from its past,” he said.
Ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, The Chosun Ilbo conducted back-to-back interviews with Budanov and HUR Deputy Chief Vadym Skibitskyi to verify key details about North Korean troop deployments. HUR, which oversees special operations, intelligence, and psychological warfare for Ukraine’s military, is the primary agency monitoring North Korean forces in the war.
This marks the first time the head of Ukraine’s intelligence service has given an interview to an Asian media outlet.
North Korean forces sustaining heavy losses but continue operations
When asked about the current state of North Korean forces, Budanov estimated that about 4,000 troops had been killed or seriously wounded.
“Despite these losses, their operations continue without major disruptions,” he said.
Approximately 12,000 North Korean troops have reportedly been deployed, though they do not operate independently. Instead, they are embedded within Russian units, conducting joint operations in small groups rather than maintaining their own front-line positions.
“They move as part of larger Russian formations, executing combined operations,” Budanov said.
No evidence of additional troop deployments, but artillery presence expanding
Regarding the possibility of further North Korean deployments, Budanov said there was no concrete evidence of additional special forces or infantry reinforcements.
“However, there has been a clear increase in artillery and missile operation units, along with support personnel,” he said.
Skibitskyi added that around 1,000 North Korean troops are currently undergoing training with new military equipment.
“North Korean soldiers are fast learners, adapting to modern combat tactics and strategies in just a few months,” he said. “Their combat effectiveness has improved dramatically—not only with conventional weapons like tanks but also with advanced systems such as drones.”
Deepening military ties between North Korea and Russia
Budanov said North Korea and Russia are strengthening military cooperation across multiple sectors, including technology, science, and industry.
“This collaboration is reaching the highest levels and poses a major threat to the international community,” he said.
As an example, Budanov cited the KN-23 missile that North Korea supplied to Russia.
“Initially, its accuracy was severely flawed, with an error margin of 500 to 1,500 meters,” he said. “But Russian missile experts made technical modifications, resolving the issue. The missile is now significantly more precise and a far greater threat.”
He warned that this technological advancement could have serious security implications for South Korea and Japan, both of which are within North Korea’s missile range.
“North Korea is using this war to gain combat experience and modernize its military technology,” Budanov said. “This will have lasting consequences for the security landscape in the Asia-Pacific region.”
North Korea learning rapidly from shifting battlefield technologies
An unnamed Ukrainian military intelligence official who attended the interview noted that the battlefield dynamics in Ukraine shift every six months.
“As we introduce new technologies—such as drones and electronic warfare—Russian forces develop countermeasures, and we, in turn, create new tactics to overcome them,” the official said. “North Korean troops are observing and adapting to these changes in real-time.”
Strengthening military cooperation between South Korea and Ukraine
On the possibility of military cooperation between South Korea and Ukraine, Budanov emphasized shared strategic interests.
“Both Ukraine and South Korea are confronting the same adversary—North Korea,” he said. “South Korea has decades of intelligence on North Korea, which would be invaluable to us.”
However, he noted that South Korea has not engaged in large-scale combat with North Korean forces since the 1950-53 Korean War.
“Ukraine is experiencing that firsthand right now,” he said. “Exchanging intelligence and battlefield experience would be mutually beneficial. I hope to see stronger collaboration between our two countries in the future.”
