North Korean TV shares video footage claiming DPRK troops were fighting in Russia’s Kursk region

A new video shared from multiple social media accounts shows first-time footage of North Korean soldiers in winter gear fighting in snowy Russian terrain. In one of the videos, the channel name is written in Korean, which translates to Red Star TV (Bulgeunbyeol TV).

However, this is not North Korea’s official state broadcaster. Instead, it is a pro-North Korean channel, not an official DPRK television network.






However, North Korea’s state television KRT on Friday, August 22, broadcast footage purporting to show North Korean soldiers fighting Ukrainian troops in Russia's Kursk region, which shares a border with northeastern Ukraine, according to Reuters.

Kim Jong Un acknowledged casualties and honored returning soldiers on August 21, 2025. And the KRT channel ran a full-fledged mourning program in respect of the fallen soldiers,

The Sunday Times also shared the video on its YouTube channel showing North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine.

That video’s caption said that they could not verify when the videos were filmed. They show North Korean soldiers advancing through snow-covered battlefields, manoeuvring through ruined buildings and overturned vehicles as they fire artillery and launch missiles.

In a July 2 article, a Ukrainian official was quoted by CNN as stating that North Korea is planning to triple the number of its troops fighting for Russia along the front lines in Ukraine, sending an additional 25,000 to 30,000 soldiers to support Moscow.

The report also said around 10000 soldiers were sent to that region, of whom 4000 were killed or injured.

Where is Kursk?

The Kursk region, also called Kursk Oblast, is a federal subject of Russia located in the western part of the country. It lies along the upper Seym River, about 450 kilometers (280 miles) south of Moscow. The administrative center of the region is the city of Kursk.

Kursk Oblast borders Ukraine to the west. The region has a generally hilly terrain with many rivers and streams, and it is known for fertile black soil (chernozem) suitable for agriculture.

This location places Kursk in the central European part of Russia, near the border with Ukraine, which has strategic importance given the ongoing conflict in the area.