Unmasking Fakes: North Korean Soldiers in Russia

Reports alleging the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia, potentially deployed to support Russian forces in Ukraine, have sparked a wave of speculation and scrutiny. Various media outlets and especially Telegram channels have circulated purported evidence of North Korean military involvement, but conflicting reports and signs of manipulated media have raised doubts about the authenticity of this information.

Claims of North Korean Deployment to Russia

Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, several reports have emerged suggesting that North Korean soldiers may be stationed in Russia. South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) released satellite images purportedly showing North Korean special forces training in the presence of Kim Jong-un, which reportedly supports claims of an initial deployment of 1,500 troops. Russian sources allege that these forces arrived by sea on North Korean naval vessels, escorted by Russia’s Pacific Fleet. The motivation for North Korean participation, according to these reports, is largely economic, with Russia allegedly promising $2,000 per soldier in addition to substantial rice exports to address North Korea’s chronic food shortages.

However, Ukrainian intelligence has countered with skepticism, questioning why North Korean troops would arrive by sea rather than by the more straightforward rail routes from North Korea to Russia. Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have underscored these claims as a potential rallying point for international support against foreign military aid to Russia.

Manipulation in Documents and Visual Media

Alongside reports of North Korean troops in Ukraine, various pieces of purported evidence have surfaced online to support these claims. Among them is a photo allegedly showing a deceased ‘North Korean’ soldier with a military ID. While the document itself raises questions, the photo manipulation is very easily detected with the noise and level analysis filters.

The noise patterns and shapes around the ID differ from the rest of the image, indicating it was digitally manipulated against the background. Analysis with two separate methods confirmed this manipulation.

Additionally, a supposed ration package for North Korean soldiers, labeled as a “special distribution” from the Donghung Canned Food Factory, displays questionable authenticity. The labeling translates to “Ministry of National Defense of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea – Special Distribution for Military.“

Open-source research on North Korean military rations yielded no findings resembling the canned meat in question. Content creators, researchers, and North Korean defectors reference rice, silkworm protein, grain, and grease blocks as typical rations, with some noting the complete absence of common in other countries standardized ration packs. The appearance of a “dog meat” label also drew attention due to its unusual terminology, which diverges from typical North Korean dialect, further hinting at the possibility of forgery.

Korean language users analyzed linguistic differences between North and South Korean terms for “dog meat” (‘단고기’ vs. ‘개고기’) and question the authenticity of certain content that uses these terms. They point out that unusual phrasing like ‘자체 육중에’ could indicate manipulation or errors in text that suggest Russian rather than Ukrainian involvement, raising suspicions of propaganda or fabrication. Additionally, references to North Korean defectors and potential discrepancies in broadcast language hint at possible intentional tampering with content to influence perception or spread disinformation.

The discussion suggests that Russian or Chinese influence could introduce translation errors or uncommon terms, as seen when North Korean officials use “군대” (military) to refer to Russia. Additionally, Western fonts mimicking Korean styles are observed as potential indicators of document manipulation, providing subtle cues about the source or authenticity of the material.

Russian and Ukrainian Telegram Channels Add Fuel to the Fire

Telegram channels, particularly the pro-Russian outlet Readovka, have been actively sharing content related to the North Korean presence, including flyers in both Russian and Korean with phrases designed for use in military contexts. Phrases such as “Как тебя зовут?” (“What is your name?”) and “Помоги!” (“Help!”) suggest that Russian soldiers are being trained to communicate with Korean-speaking personnel, though there is no concrete evidence tying this to actual North Korean deployments.

WNM has identified evidence of at least two sets of language materials and has attempted to trace their origins. The Ukrainian-language materials appear to be linked to the Telegram channel ‘Readovka,’ which has claimed authorship of the pamphlet. Another Ukrainian Telegram channel posted images of the document being printed and distributed, suggesting it may be part of a psychological operation targeting the Ukrainian side.

Another language material distributed online is a ‘Memo on Basic Commands in Korean Language’. The main Russian title reads, “ПАМЯТКА по основным командам на корейском языке” (“Memo on Basic Commands in Korean Language”). Below, it says, “Это надо знать!” (“This must be known!”), and further instructions explain that soldiers and officers need to learn these phrases in Korean for effective battlefield interactions.

Picture on the right is the pamphlet that is being distributed as an evidence of North Korean troops presence in Ukraine together with the Russian forces.

On the left page, the Russian phrases are listed, and on the right page, their Korean translations are provided. Some of the phrases include basic commands and questions useful in a combat scenario, such as: “Как тебя зовут?” (“What is your name?”), “Из какого ты подразделения?” (“What unit are you from?”),”Помоги!” (“Help!”), “Не двигаться!” (“Don’t move!”), “Стой!” (“Stop!”), “Опусти оружие!” (“Drop your weapon!”), “Покажи документ!” (“Show your document!”).

The list also includes phrases like “Автомат” (likely referring to an automatic rifle), “Гранаты” (grenades), “Вода” (water), and “Есть” (to eat), indicating essential resources or commands relevant to a military context.

Research on this material revealed the Russian Army logo on the title page, and further investigation led to a similar memo on the Ministry of Defense website. It appears that the pamphlet was designed to mimic the style of this official document, although the font differs slightly, suggesting an attempt to closely match it. Notably, the section of the website containing pamphlets from the state secret service focuses on cyber and information security materials, with no connection to Korean language resources or military deployment operations.

Videos and photos

Videos circulating on platforms like TikTok and Telegram have intensified speculation. This video posted in Supernova Telegram channel shows the humanitarian aid delivery to the soldiers and a Russian journalist, who is the author of the video is mentioning a soldier from ‘Korea’ while pointing the finger. This is not the first time Supernova has posted materials referencing North Korean soldiers, and given the channel’s reportedly pro-Ukrainian orientation, it raises questions about the purpose and intent behind these posts.

Another video titled “North Korean generals are at Red Square in Moscow?” suggests the presence of high-ranking North Korean officials in Russia. Analysts scrutinized the attire in these videos, noting similarities to traditional North Korean black coats and military attire; however, the peaked caps and specific details do not align entirely with standard North Korean uniforms, raising questions about the authenticity of these clips.

A video titled ‘North Korean Generals Are at Red Square in Moscow?’ suggests the presence of high-ranking North Korean officials in Russia. The attire shown in the video bears some resemblance to traditional North Korean black coats and military dress, yet the peaked caps and certain uniform details do not fully align with standard North Korean attire, raising questions about the video’s authenticity. Efforts to verify the video included searching for visual matches with known North Korean uniforms. However, the coat style does resemble those occasionally worn by Kim Jong Un and Prime Minister Kim Tok-hun.

Conclusion

The ongoing debate around potential North Korean military support for Russia remains highly polarized. While some Russian sources argue that North Korean troops could significantly bolster Russian forces with their rigorous training, others question the narrative’s plausibility, suggesting it may be a propaganda tactic designed to influence international opinion. North Korea’s motivations are likely influenced by its deep-seated economic challenges, with reports indicating that Russia has offered substantial financial incentives to North Korean soldiers, in addition to food supplies to address internal shortages.

The geopolitical implications of a North Korean presence in Russia are substantial. Should these claims be verified, it would signal a deepening of the strategic alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow. However, given the volume of manipulated media and conflicting narratives, discerning truth from disinformation is increasingly challenging. The story continues to unfold as analysts, OSINT experts, and government agencies scrutinize the available evidence, seeking to confirm the extent of North Korean involvement—or to debunk it as a fabrication in the high-stakes information warfare surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict.