In exchange for sending soldiers, North Korea is receiving money and nuclear technology from Russia.

According to the head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, North Korea has already dispatched at least 500 officers and three generals to Russia. By the end of October, North Korea plans to send an additional 2,600 troops to Russia’s Kursk region.

Unlike Russian troops, North Korean soldiers are highly motivated, driven by a rigid ideology, and aware that their families back home could face severe consequences if they fail to comply. This makes them effective at addressing “certain problems” for the Russians, and, as Budanov noted, their involvement raises significant concerns.

However, North Korean troops have not yet encountered the realities of modern warfare, where tactical strike drones play a dominant role. It will take them several weeks to adapt to these conditions.

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