A senior U.S. official confirmed clashes between Ukrainian and North Korean troops, resulting in significant North Korean casualties, according to The New York Times. While the exact timing of the engagements remains unclear, the U.S. official stated that “a significant number” of North Korean soldiers were killed in action.
A high-ranking Ukrainian official declined to provide specific casualty figures for the North Korean forces but described the clashes as limited in scope, suggesting they were likely probing attacks to assess vulnerabilities along the front lines. Ukrainian intelligence has identified that North Korean troops are operating alongside Russia’s 810th Naval Infantry Brigade, reportedly divided into assault and support units, with the latter tasked with fortifying defensive positions in areas recaptured from Ukrainian control. Ukrainian officials speculate that the remaining North Korean troops, which have not yet seen combat, may join active combat operations soon.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the North Korean troop involvement during a video address and urged international support. In a separate interview with KBS, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that although the engagement was small, Ukrainian forces are planning to deploy more troops in the coming weeks once training is completed.
Intelligence from the U.S., Ukrainian, and South Korea estimates that approximately 10,000 North Korean troops have been moved to Kursk in western Russia, a key battleground in the ongoing conflict. Kursk has been a focus of Ukrainian military efforts since August, as they shifted their strategy towards territorial defense and limited counteroffensives.
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