A South Korean MP disclosed that at least 100 North Korean soldiers have been killed in Ukraine since their deployment to support Russia, with additional reports of injuries. The unfamiliarity of North Korean troops with combat and drone warfare is cited as a contributing factor to their high casualty rate.
Rising Toll: Over 100 North Koreans Reportedly Dead in Ukraine Conflict
Rising Toll: Over 100 North Koreans Reportedly Dead in Ukraine Conflict
South Korean intelligence reveals casualties among North Korean soldiers deployed to aid Russia in the ongoing Ukraine war, raising concerns over their combat effectiveness.
At least 100 North Korean soldiers have reportedly lost their lives while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Ukraine war, according to a statement from South Korean lawmaker Lee Sung-kwon. In a recent briefing with the National Intelligence Service, he revealed that alongside the deaths, around 1,000 North Korean troops have sustained injuries since their mobilization earlier this month.
Lee elaborated that the casualties included several high-ranking officials and attributed these losses to the North Korean troops' unfamiliarity with Ukraine's terrain and the complexities of drone warfare. The first reports of North Korean casualties emerged earlier this week, following revelations that North Korea had dispatched approximately 10,000 soldiers to support Russia’s military operations.
On Monday, a spokesperson for the Pentagon acknowledged the deaths of North Korean troops without providing specific figures, whereas an anonymous U.S. official indicated that casualties could number in the "several hundred." However, the BBC notes that these claims have not been independently verified.
The North Korean forces, largely inexperienced in combat, reportedly spent their initial weeks in training and support roles within Russia. The majority of the casualties are believed to have occurred in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces are defending against Russian advances from territory captured earlier.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a statement last Saturday mentioning that a "significant number" of North Korean troops had been actively engaged in Russian assaults in the region, though they have not been deployed within Ukraine’s borders itself.
Lee Sung-kwon warned of preparations for more North Korean troop deployments, with indications that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may supervise additional training efforts. Intelligence reports suggest that the high casualty count stems from North Korean soldiers being employed as expendable front-line assault units, lacking the skills needed to effectively counter drone assaults.
Reportedly, dissatisfaction has emerged within Russian ranks concerning the operational effectiveness of North Korean troops, many of whom are perceived as a liability due to their inexperience with advanced warfare technologies. Although neither the Russian government nor the North Korean regime has officially acknowledged these troop deployments, a recent statement from North Korea's state media highlighted the alliance with Moscow as a strategic counter to the perceived U.S. and Western expansion.
