North Korean Casualties Rise as Soldiers Engage in Ukraine War

A South Korean MP highlights the toll on North Korean soldiers engaged in the ongoing war in Ukraine, citing casualties due to unfamiliarity with local terrain and combat tactics.

 

At least 100 North Korean soldiers have reportedly lost their lives in the ongoing Ukraine conflict after being deployed to fight on the Russian side. This troubling information was shared by South Korean lawmaker Lee Sung-kwon following a briefing from the National Intelligence Service. In addition to the fatalities, he noted that around 1,000 other North Korean troops have sustained injuries, including some high-ranking officials.

The first indications of North Korean military losses surfaced earlier this week. Reports disclosed that North Korea had sent approximately 10,000 soldiers to bolster Russia's war efforts, which has led to growing concern over the ramifications of this alliance. Recent statements by a Pentagon spokesman confirmed the deaths of North Korean troops, although specific numbers were not provided; an unnamed U.S. official later indicated that there had been "several hundred" casualties.

While the claims regarding the North Korean losses have not been independently verified, the troops involved are understood to have initially undergone training in Russia before being dispatched for support roles in combat. Most of the reported casualties occurred in the Kursk region of Russia, where Ukrainian forces are actively defending territory previously taken in a surprise assault in August.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern last Saturday regarding Russia's increased reliance on North Korean personnel in their assaults in Kursk. It appears that these troops have not been directly engaged in battles within Ukraine but remain in supporting capacities in Russia.

Lee Sung-kwon further indicated that additional deployments may be imminent, with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un potentially overseeing their training. According to intelligence insights shared by Lee, the high casualty rate can largely be attributed to the North Korean soldiers’ unfamiliarity with the tactical demands of the battlefield and inadequacies in countering drone warfare, leading to comments within the Russian military about North Korean troops being more of a liability than an advantage.

Despite the rising casualties, both Russia and North Korea have yet to publicly acknowledge the deployment of their troops. A recent statement from North Korea's state news agency KCNA reaffirmed the cooperative alliance with Moscow, claiming that this partnership fortifies their stance against what they perceive as U.S. and Western encroachments.