With Russia deploying North Korean troops to front-line ground combat, casualties among North Korean forces have surged. Inexperienced North Korean soldiers are reportedly suffering significant losses as they confront powerful weapons, such as lethal drones and cluster munitions, in an unfamiliar environment.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Ukrainian government and military announced that Russian forces had concentrated North Korean units at the front lines of the battle in the Kursk region. According to Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, between December 14 and 16, 50 North Korean soldiers were killed, and 47 others were injured during combat. Including other battlefronts, North Korean casualties are estimated to have exceeded 200.
U.S. military officials also reported hundreds of casualties among North Korean troops deployed to Russia, ranging from lower-ranking soldiers to personnel in higher ranks. Citing a senior U.S. official, AFP reported that hundreds of North Korean soldiers were killed or injured in clashes with Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. The official stated that hundreds of casualties among North Korean troops are their latest estimate, marking a significant increase from earlier assessments.
The total number of North Korean troops deployed to Russia is believed to be approximately 12,000. These forces are particularly vulnerable to Ukrainian drone strikes and cluster munitions. Ukrainian forces also released footage of North Korean soldiers captured by drones. In a first-person view drone (FPV) attack, the video shows soldiers fleeing between trees before being targeted and collapsing one by one. Other footage revealed terrified soldiers staring blankly at drones, as well as scenes of cluster munitions exploding, killing or injuring numerous soldiers. Cluster munitions are weapons that contain dozens to hundreds of small bomblets within a larger bomb, resulting in extensive lethality and damage.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, announced via Telegram on Saturday that Russian forces have begun deploying large-scale joint units composed of Russian and North Korean troops to the Kursk front. However, he assessed that the two forces face difficulties in management and coordination due to language barriers. He also warned of the potential use of North Korean troops on other fronts, indicating a worsening situation.
Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukrainian Forces, stated that Russian forces had launched a three-day offensive in the Kursk region, actively deploying North Korean troops in combat. He reported, “North Korean soldiers are already suffering significant losses,” and noted that their casualties are steadily increasing.
According to Ukrainian military intelligence, joint combat units reinforced with replacement troops from North Korea’s 94th Independent Brigade continue to be deployed. This suggests that Russia is using North Korean forces as expendable tools to sustain intense offensives at the front lines. Since the deployment of North Korean troops is still recent, their casualty numbers will likely increase further in the coming days.
Most Commented