Russia makes film about North Korean troops in Kursk, casting South Korean actor

Russia is producing a war film about North Korean soldiers deployed to the Kursk region to fight Ukrainian forces.

Russian filmmaker Vadim Oleinik announced plans for the film, titled "Sudzha. Brothers in Arms," on Wednesday (local time) at a Russian Culture Ministry review of production support applications, according to NK News, a specialist outlet covering North Korea.

The film tells the story of Russian and North Korean soldiers who fought together to recapture Sudzha, a Russian border city near Ukraine, in March last year. It is scheduled to open in August next year.

Oleinik said the film would pay tribute to soldiers who died fighting in Kursk.

He also released an AI-generated trailer featuring scenes of Ukrainian forces entering Sudzha and North Korean soldiers rescuing Russian troops.

South Korean actor Lee Hyuk-joong has been cast as the lead — a North Korean reconnaissance soldier named "Joseon."

In the trailer, a woman who appears to be the character's mother tells him, "This is not your war," but he insists he is "needed" in Kursk. Subsequent footage shows a shirtless "Joseon" training in the rain alongside other soldiers, followed by a combat scene in which he rescues a Russian comrade.

In a pre-recorded video, Lee spoke in Russian, saying he was honored to be part of the project.

Some officials within the Russian Culture Ministry raised concerns that the film exaggerates the role North Korean troops played in the Battle of Sudzha.

The production team said a military adviser would be involved and emphasized that the film would "portray the heroism of 619 North Korean soldiers who died in battle."

North Korea began deploying troops to Russia in October 2024, with the first units entering combat in December of that year.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, approximately 8,500 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia. North Korea has said around 2,300 of its troops were killed in the Battle of Kursk.