What did South Korea say about North Korea's possible troop deployment to Russia?

South Korea said North Korea was still preparing for an additional troop deployment to Russia, but it had detected no signs that the move was imminent. The assessment came after Kim Yo-jong denied Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s claim that Pyongyang planned to send up to 50,000 more troops.

What did Seoul say about North Korea's missile development and deployment status?

The ministry said some North Korean ballistic missiles and multiple rocket launchers intended for a conflict with South Korea were nearing completion. It also said the Hwasong-12 was being prepared for operational deployment, while North Korea’s ICBMs have the flight capability to reach the U.S. mainland but key re-entry technology has not been verified.

North Korea preparing further Russia troop deployments, no sign move imminent, Seoul says

Q: How much ammunition has North Korea supplied to Russia in the war against Ukraine?

South Korea said North Korea is estimated to have supplied Russia with more than 15 million rounds of artillery ammunition, measured in 152-millimetre shell equivalents. The ministry also said North Korea continued to provide weapons systems, including short-range ballistic missiles.

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Summary

North Korea is continuing preparations for an additional troop deployment to Russia, but South Korea says it has found no sign that deployment is imminent. Seoul also said North Korea continues to supply Russia with weapons systems, including short-range ballistic missiles, and has sent more than 15 million rounds of artillery ammunition. The ministry said some North Korean ballistic missiles and multiple rocket launchers intended for use against South Korea are nearing completion. It also said the Hwasong-12 missile is being prepared for operational deployment.

Key Facts

South Korea's Defence Ministry said North Korea has continued to supply Russia with weapons systems, including short-range ballistic missiles.
North Korea is estimated to have supplied Russia with more than 15 million rounds of artillery ammunition, measured in 152-millimetre shell equivalents.
The ministry said development of some North Korean ballistic missiles and multiple rocket launchers intended for use in a conflict with South Korea is nearing completion.
The Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile, which can reach Guam, is being prepared for operational deployment.
North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles can reach the U.S. mainland, but the ministry said key technologies such as warhead re-entry have not been verified because test launches have used lofted trajectories.

By Reuters

Published Aug 24, 2026 1:53 pm KST

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attend a meeting in Beijing, China, Sept. 3, 2025, in this photo provided by Sputnik. Reuters-Yonhap

South Korea's Defence Ministry said North Korea was continuing preparations for an additional troop deployment to Russia, but had detected no signs that such a deployment was imminent, according to a South Korean lawmaker's office.

The assessment came after North Korea's Kim Yo-jong, sister of leader Kim Jong-un, last week denied Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's claim that Pyongyang planned to send up to 50,000 more troops to Russia to fight for its ally.

South Korea's Defence Ministry said in a statement to lawmaker Yu Yong-weon that North Korea had continued to supply Russia with weapons systems, including short-range ballistic missiles, according to Yu's office.

North Korea is estimated to have supplied Russia with more than 15 million rounds of artillery ammunition, measured in 152-millimetre shell equivalents, it said.

The lawmaker's office, citing a South Korean Defense Intelligence Agency assessment, said North Korean missiles used in the war may have improved in accuracy through battlefield data, alongside Russian technical advice and component support.

The ministry also said the development of some North Korean ballistic missiles and multiple rocket launchers assessed as being intended for use in a conflict with South Korea was nearing completion, the lawmaker's office said.

The ministry added that North Korea's Hwasong-12 intermediate-range ballistic missile, capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam, was being prepared for operational deployment, according to Yu's office.

North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missiles have the flight capability to reach the U.S. mainland, the ministry said, but key technologies, including warhead re-entry, have not been verified because all test launches have been conducted on lofted trajectories.

North Korea and Russia have deepened military cooperation since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Pyongyang supplying artillery ammunition and missiles since 2023 and deploying troops from 2024, according to South Korean, Ukrainian and Western assessments.

Moscow and Pyongyang have previously denied arms transfers.

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