NIS Estimates 100+ North Korean Soldiers Killed, Raising Alarm Over Additional Deployments

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimates that over a hundred North Korean soldiers have been killed in the Ukraine conflict, with approximately 1,000 wounded. These casualties have sparked rumors of potential additional troop deployments within North Korean military ranks.

Rep. Lee Seong Kwon, the ruling party’s chief negotiator on the Intelligence Committee, disclosed this information to reporters following a closed-door session on Thursday.

According to the NIS, an estimated 11,000 North Korean troops stationed in Russia’s Kursk region began engaging in active combat operations in December. The intelligence agency reported that this deployment has resulted in at least a hundred fatalities and around 1,000 injuries among North Korean forces.

The NIS emphasized that these figures represent a conservative estimate based on intelligence gathered from at least four Ukrainian agencies and information shared by allied nations. The agency also noted that before this recent combat engagement, there were indications of North Korean casualties, including high-ranking officers, resulting from Ukrainian missile and drone strikes as well as training accidents.

The high casualty rate among North Korean troops is primarily attributed to their vulnerability to drone warfare. The NIS reported that North Korean soldiers operating in unfamiliar open terrain are being used as expendable frontline assault troops. Their lack of effective countermeasures against drone attacks has reportedly led to complaints from Russian forces, who view the North Koreans as a liability due to their inexperience with modern drone tactics.

With these losses, additional North Korean troop deployments appear increasingly likely. The NIS revealed rumors of further mobilization circulating within North Korea’s Storm Corps. Intelligence also suggests that preparations are underway for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to inspect training exercises, prompting close monitoring of potential further deployments.

Despite recent political turmoil in South Korea, including President Yoon Suk Yeol’s martial law declaration and impeachment proceedings, the NIS assessed that North Korea is maintaining a low-profile stance. This restrained approach is believed to be influenced by several factors: North Korea’s focus on its narrative of facing two hostile nations, the perception that South Korea’s internal political strife benefits Pyongyang, and concerns that exposure to South Korea’s democratic processes could destabilize the North Korean regime.