At least 100 North Korean soldiers have been confirmed killed in Ukraine, with another 1,000 wounded, as the conflict in eastern Europe takes a heavy toll on the Hermit Kingdom’s forces.
These devastating figures, which could include senior North Korean generals, were revealed during a confidential briefing from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) to the country’s lawmakers on Thursday.
The report comes as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reportedly considering sending more troops to reinforce Russia’s strained military efforts in Ukraine.
Despite the deployment of over 10,000 North Korean soldiers, these forces have struggled with basic military tactics such as drone operations, creating tensions between Russia and its new ally.
South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-Kwon, who attended the briefing, described the North Korean troops as a “burden” to the Russian military.
Videos released by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this week have shown North Korean soldiers fighting in the contested region of Kursk, providing stark evidence of the high human cost.
In one video, North Korean troops are seen taking cover behind trees while advancing on Ukrainian positions.
Another disturbing clip shows Russian forces burning the faces of deceased North Korean soldiers, allegedly in an attempt to conceal their identities and avoid drawing international attention.
“Russia is not only involving North Korean soldiers in assaults against Ukrainian positions but also attempting to hide the scale of the losses,” Zelensky said. “The Russians are even resorting to burning the faces of killed North Korean soldiers.”
The crisis deepened over the weekend when North Korean troops mistakenly killed eight Russian paramilitary fighters in a friendly-fire incident.
Ukrainian military intelligence reported that North Korean forces, while attempting to retake Kursk, targeted the Chechen Akhmat unit in error, resulting in tragic deaths. Officials cited the “language barrier” as a primary factor in the miscommunication between the two forces.
In an ongoing effort to maintain momentum in its offensive, Russia is reportedly sending additional North Korean soldiers to the front lines.
Despite the continuing losses, both Russia and North Korea have remained tight-lipped about the troop deployments and weapon supplies.
North Korea’s support is increasingly critical to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s faltering invasion, now approaching its fourth year.
Kim Jong Un is also rumoured to be planning an inspection of North Korea’s special operations forces, which could be further deployed to assist Russian operations in Ukraine.
Ukrainian intelligence sources disclosed that North Korean troops have been tasked with setting up additional observation posts to track Ukrainian drone activity, further strengthening Russia’s efforts.
In the face of escalating casualties and challenges, North Korea maintains that its military alliance with Russia is “very effective” in deterring Western influence and countering the United States and its allies.
This growing alliance between North Korea and Russia highlights the shifting dynamics of the Ukraine war, with the two countries increasingly reliant on each other as the conflict drags into its fourth year.
The stakes are rising as both nations face mounting international pressure and continued military losses.
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