On June 17, 2025, Sergei Shoigu announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had decided to send 1000 sappers and 5000 military construction workers to the Kursk region to restore infrastructure damaged by attacks by the Ukrainian armed forces. The statement came amid an ongoing conflict that has caused significant destruction in Russia's border regions. Pyongyang's decision to provide aid underscores the strengthening of military and political cooperation between Moscow and North Korea, raising concerns among the international community.

The Kursk region, like other border regions of Russia, is regularly subjected to attacks by Ukrainian drones and artillery. Since the beginning of 2025, more than 150 incidents have been recorded in the region, including strikes on civilian infrastructure that led to the destruction of residential buildings, schools and energy facilities. In particular, in May 2025, a Ukrainian drone damaged a substation in Kursk, leaving several districts without power. The introduction of North Korean forces will speed up these processes, especially in areas affected by shelling.