North Korea has deployed thousands of troops to help Russia 'terrorize Ukraine,' report finds

Russia has deployed thousands of North Korean soldiers and weaponry to “terrorize” Ukraine, according to a new report by members of the United Nations.

Russia has deployed thousands of North Korean soldiers and weaponry to “terrorize” Ukraine, according to a new report by members of the United Nations which reveals a “myriad of unlawful activities,” and exposes Moscow's reliance on the isolated regime.

The Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT), comprising 11 U.N. member states including the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Japan, said that Kim Jong-un’s regime supplied over 11,000 troops, at least 100 ballistic missiles, and "as many as 9 million rounds of mixed artillery and multiple rocket launcher ammunition” in 2024.

This “unlawful cooperation” contributed “to Moscow’s ability to increase its missile attacks against Ukrainian cities, including targeted strikes on critical civilian infrastructure,” the report, published Thursday, said. It also estimated that North Korea had deployed an additional 3,000 troops to Russia between January and March 2025.

Moscow, the report said, is reciprocating by supporting Pyongyang’s ballistic missile programs, leading to “improvements in missile guidance performance.” Russia is believed to have supplied North Korea with “air defense equipment, anti-aircraft missiles, as well as advanced electronic warfare equipment,” it added.

Korean People's Army soldiers march in Pyongyang last month.Kim Won Jin / AFP - Getty ImagesThe evidence shows that North Korea and Russia had engaged in numerous violations of United Nations Security Council Resolutions, including arms transfers, Russian training of North Korean forces, and supplying North Korea with refined petroleum beyond UNSC limits, the MSMT said.