North Korea uses Ukraine war to test military potential, experts say

In recent weeks, both the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and journalist Vitaly Portnykov have drawn attention to the deepening involvement of North Korean forces in Russia's military operations in Ukraine, particularly in the Kursk Oblast. Portnikov suggests that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is using the conflict to gain invaluable combat experience for his military, which has been relatively dormant in terms of active warfare for decades. This involvement not only allows Kim’s generals and officers to learn from real battlefield conditions but also serves as preparation for a potential future conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

ISW further bolsters this analysis, asserting that North Korea is leveraging the Ukraine war as a testing ground for its military capabilities. Recent reports indicate that Russia may be providing North Korea with drone and missile technology in exchange for their support, further confirming that this collaboration serves mutual strategic interests. According to ISW, North Korean forces have been actively engaged in assaults alongside Russian troops in Kursk, demonstrating their growing role in the conflict.

At the same time, Russia’s reliance on North Korean troops reflects its increasingly dire resource situation. As Portnikov notes, Russia’s failure to achieve its goals in the Kursk region and the presence of foreign soldiers like the North Koreans underscore the deepening strain on Russia’s military. ISW emphasizes that Russia is continuing to expand its military efforts, with the creation of new divisions and further integration with North Korea, signaling that the Kremlin is not seeking peace but rather a protracted war.

Its mean that the war in Ukraine has become a battleground not just for Russian and Ukrainian forces, but for broader geopolitical maneuvering, with North Korea positioning itself as a key player in this ongoing conflict.

• The combat experience that North Korean troops are gaining in the war against Ukraine poses a direct threat to the security of the U.S., the Indo-Pacific region, and many other countries.