South Korean National Intelligence Service

Force in Play

As of September 2026: Primary source for North Korean casualty estimates

North Korea has not sent combat troops abroad since the Korean War ended in 1953. In October 2024, about 12,000 to 15,000 soldiers deployed to Russia's Kursk region. In August 2026, Ukraine reported a new wave of 8,500 troops, including drone operators, and a North Korean missile unit moved to western Russia.

Updated Sep 8