The involvement of North Korean forces in Ukraine's border skirmishes could significantly complicate the geopolitical landscape amidst the ongoing war.
North Korean Troops Reported Killed in Ukraine Conflict, US Claims
North Korean Troops Reported Killed in Ukraine Conflict, US Claims
US intelligence reveals North Korean casualties in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, marking a notable escalation in foreign troop involvement.
North Korean troops have reportedly sustained casualties while engaging with Ukrainian forces in the Kursk border region of Russia, according to a statement from the United States. This marks the first known fatalities since it became public in October that North Korea had deployed about 10,000 soldiers to support the Russian military's efforts in Ukraine. The Ukrainian military intelligence agency, GUR, disclosed that at least 30 North Korean troops were killed or wounded during confrontations over the past weekend; however, this assertion has yet to be verified by independent sources, including the BBC.
The North Korean soldiers, who lack combat experience, initially spent several weeks in Russia undergoing training before assuming support roles. According to statements by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, there has been an uptick in Russian military operations, reportedly utilizing a notable number of North Korean troops during assaults in the Kursk region, an area that Ukraine has partially occupied since an unexpected incursion launched in August.
In a press briefing on Monday, Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder confirmed US assessments, indicating that North Korean soldiers had participated in combat alongside Russian forces and suffered both fatal and non-fatal injuries. While he refrained from disclosing specific casualty figures, Ryder mentioned that these troops had been engaged in combat activities for just over a week. It is noted that their combat role has so far been confined to the Kursk region, indicating that they have not yet been deployed within Ukraine itself.
Russian military operations have intensified in eastern Ukraine since launching a full-scale invasion in February 2022. The GUR reported that the North Korean casualties occurred over the weekend in the Kursk villages of Plekhovo, Vorobzha, and Martynovka. President Zelensky shared drone footage on social media that allegedly showed North Korean troops taking cover, claiming they had recently participated in an assault against Ukrainian positions. He further claimed to have evidence of Russian troops attempting to obscure the presence of North Korean forces on the battlefield, including efforts to disguise the faces of deceased soldiers.
Zelensky emphasized that there is “not a single reason” for North Koreans to lose their lives in this conflict. Questions posed to the Kremlin regarding the North Korean casualties were redirected to the Russian Ministry of Defence, which has thus far remained silent on the matter.
