Ukrainian military intelligence has reported that North Korean forces fighting alongside Russian troops in southwestern Kursk have had little impact on the battlefield so far.
Yevhen Yerin, a Ukrainian military intelligence service spokesman, told AFP on Tuesday that the North Korean contingent’s combat involvement has been negligible, and their troop numbers are not strategically significant. He added that these forces lack experience in modern warfare, particularly drone operations, and their tactics resemble those used during World War II.
However, Yenin cautioned that North Korean units adapt to the conflict and evolve their operational approach, emphasizing the importance of vigilance.
The Ukrainian military estimates around 12,000 North Korean troops on the Kursk front, including approximately 500 officers and three generals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed via social media that over 3,000 North Korean personnel deployed to Russia have been killed. This figure is nearly triple the estimate of 1,100 casualties reported by South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff.
North Korean forces are expected to deploy more in the coming months. In a Telegram statement, Zelenskyy warned, “There are risks of North Korea sending additional troops and military equipment to the Russian army.”
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff echoed this concern in a recent intelligence briefing, “North Korean forces are currently preparing for troop rotations or further deployments.”
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