Russia’s framing of North Korean soldiers’ participation in the Russo-Ukrainian war
Russia’s framing of North Korean soldiers’ participation in the Russo-Ukrainian war

Summary/Abstract: When Russia engaged North Korean troops to fight the Armed Forces of Ukraine during Ukraine’s Kursk offensive, this became a major turn in the full-scale Russo-Ukrainian war. The events showcased strong escalation on Russia’s side and internationalization of the war, once again proving Russia to be a negative actor within the system of international security. There is currently a lack of detailed picture of how Russia communicated (framed) the deployment of North Korean soldiers to mitigate the reputational damage. This paper is focused on providing practical insights for understanding Russia’s strategic communication by highlighting how its framing of this issue evolved. Qualitative frame analysis based on Entman’s approach is used to interpret Russia’s communication concerning involvement of the North Korean troops. Frames are induced from the chronological analysis of messages issued by Russian officials between autumn 2024 and spring 2025. Five key frames are identified, varying from labeling news about North Korean troops as “informational canard” to emphasizing the “glorious rightful alliance” between Russia and North Korea. It is implied that Russia’s communication regarding North Korean troops gradually became more explicit in blaming its enemies (like Ukraine, NATO, or South Korea), more defensive, and more direct in recognizing North Korean troops’ engagement on the battlefield. The study indicates that Russia was adapting its strategic communication depending on the overall geopolitical context to support its strategic goals and public image. The paper provides deeper evidence-based understanding of Russia’s strategic communication, including attempts at flexible communication in the information warfare.

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