North Korean Forces Helping Clear Mines in Russia’s Kursk Region: Moscow

North Korean Troops Key to De-Mining Operations in Russia’s Kursk Region: Moscow.

North Korean troops, who assisted Russia in repelling a Ukrainian incursion into western Kursk, are now playing a critical role in clearing mines in the area, the Russian Defence Ministry said Friday.

Under a mutual defence pact, Pyongyang sent about 14,000 soldiers to support Russian forces in Kursk last year, with over 6,000 reportedly killed, according to South Korean, Ukrainian, and Western sources. Ukrainian forces had entered western Kursk in August 2024, but were pushed back with North Korean assistance, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed in April.

Russian Defence Ministry videos show North Korean soldiers being trained on mine detection and handling equipment, taking part in exercises, and performing patriotic songs. Russian commanders praised their skill and discipline, with one noting they operate “on an equal level with my sappers, carrying out the same tasks.”

Krasnaya Zvezda reported that Russian and North Korean troops are confronting a “previously unseen density” of anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, many allegedly manufactured by NATO countries.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov lauded North Korea’s “selfless, heroic assistance,” calling their work dangerous but invaluable to Russia’s de-mining efforts.