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North Koreans gaining "experience" in Ukraine war, says U.S. commander

Colin Demarest

Illustration of an alarm clock with a North Korean flag face — Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

North Korean troops are "bringing experience back" from the Russia-Ukraine war, where drones and robotics are reshaping warfare, according to the commander of the U.S. Eighth Army.

Why it matters: Frontline lessons are invaluable — especially for such a sealed-off regime.

Continued exposure could spell trouble for South Korea and the U.S.

What they're saying: "As we all are observing and watching how war is changing in Ukraine and in the Middle East, the North Koreans are, absolutely, doing that too," Lt. Gen. Joseph Hilbert told reporters in Washington this month.

"I won't get into the specifics of what the relationship looks like between Russia and the DPRK," he said. "But there's obvious cooperation there."

Threat level: North Korea has sent more than 16,000 personnel to Russia since October 2024, according to South Korean intelligence. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this summer said tens of thousands more could be deployed.

Context: The Eighth Army is headquartered at Camp Humphreys, south of Seoul.

Go deeper: "Cannon-fodder mercenaries" in Russia highlight global nature of war

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North Koreans gaining "experience" in Ukraine war, says U.S. commander

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