North Korea Is Reportedly Sending a Ballistic Missile Unit To Russia. Ukraine Worries More Troops Could Come Next

North Korea has deployed a ballistic missile unit to western Russia, according to a new report.

Reuters detailed that the unit could be equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers, which would likely be used for strikes against Ukraine.

The deployment would represent an escalation of the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Pyongyang has already provided Moscow with military support, including ballistic missiles to help Russia in its war with Ukraine.

Last week, Russia fired two North Korean ballistic missiles at Ukraine. They were the first North Korean missiles to be used by Russia since last August, Reuters reported. Also, according to Reuters, Russia recently received 40 ballistic missiles from North Korea.

"Ballistic missile defense is one of Ukraine's greatest vulnerabilities so any increase in the quantities of ballistic missiles they face will pose a greater challenge," Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, told Reuters.

The Kyiv Independent reported that the primary way Ukraine can intercept ballistic missiles is through U.S.-made Patriot missile system, however, the country has a limited number of air defense missiles for those systems and they're decreasing by the day.

According to the outlet, the problem was highlighted on Aug. 1, when Russia launched 27 ballistic missiles at Ukraine, and the country's air defense was only able to successfully intercept one of them.

The reported deployment comes just as Russia and North Korea complete a bridge that will mark the first road connection between the two nations.

The Guardian reported that the bridge crosses the Tumen River. On the east side of the bridge is Khasan in Russia. The bridge connects to Tumangang in North Korea.

The outlet reported in late July that Russia and North Korea have said the bridge will help foster trade and tourism, but Ukrainian officials have voiced worries that the bridge will help fuel North Korean military support for Russia.

In 2024, North Korea and Russia signed a strategic partnership pact. Since then, North Korea has supported Russia, even providing 14,000 troops to fight alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region, The Guardian reported.

The Kyiv Independent reported that Ukraine is concerned that North Korea might be preparing to step up its support and send in thousands of troops. On July 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the possibility of more North Korean troops joining the conflict.

"Russia wants to receive another 30,000 troops from North Korea," Zelensky said according to the Kyiv Independent. "Since June, preparations have been underway in Russia's Voronezh Oblast to receive them."