North Korean troops killed fighting Ukraine, says US
North Korean troops have reportedly been killed while fighting Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk border region, according to the US.
These casualties are the first reported since it was revealed in October that North Korea had sent approximately 10,000 troops to support Russia’s war efforts.
Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the GUR, stated that at least 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded during clashes over the weekend. The BBC has not independently verified these claims.
The North Korean troops, who are believed to lack prior combat experience, reportedly underwent initial training and performed support roles upon their arrival in Russia.
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Russia had started deploying a “significant number” of these troops in assaults in the Kursk region, part of which Ukraine has occupied since launching a surprise incursion in August.
Speaking on Monday, Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder confirmed that North Korean soldiers had “engaged in combat in Kursk alongside Russian forces” and had sustained casualties, both killed and wounded. While he did not specify the exact numbers, he stated the troops had been in combat for just over a week. He added that the North Koreans appeared to be serving in infantry roles and were so far only deployed in Kursk, not Ukraine itself.
The GUR reported that the casualties occurred on Saturday and Sunday in the Kursk villages of Plekhovo, Vorobzha, and Martynovka.
President Zelensky shared drone footage on Telegram showing individuals taking cover behind trees, claiming they were North Korean troops who had recently participated in an assault on Ukrainian positions. He also posted footage alleging that Russian forces attempted to obscure the presence of North Korean soldiers on the battlefield by burning the faces of deceased troops using a campfire.
“Ukraine’s Defense Forces and intelligence are working to assess the full extent of the losses suffered by Russian units that include North Korean personnel,” Zelensky said.
He added that there was “not a single reason for North Koreans to die in this war”.
The Kremlin referred questions about North Korean deaths to the Russian Ministry of Defence, which has made no comment.
