Thousands of North Korean soldiers have reportedly fought alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, according to a BBC investigative report published on May 8, 2026. The report states that around 2,300 North Korean troops were killed while fighting for Russia. South Korean authorities said that after Russia’s sudden incursion into Ukraine’s Kursk region in August 2024, at least 11,000 North Korean soldiers were sent to assist in reclaiming parts of the area.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has publicly paid tribute to the soldiers who died in the conflict. The report suggests that in exchange for sending troops, Pyongyang received food, financial, and technological support from Moscow. In October 2025, Kim Jong Un reportedly ordered the construction of a museum in Pyongyang’s Hwasong district to honor the fallen soldiers.

The findings highlight the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea amid the ongoing war in Ukraine, as reported by the BBC.