North Korean Troops Reported Killed in Ukraine Conflict

In a startling development, U.S. officials have confirmed that North Korean troops have been killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk border region of Ukraine. This marks the first reported casualties since news emerged in October that North Korea had dispatched approximately 10,000 troops to bolster Russia’s military efforts.

Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the GUR, has reported that at least 30 North Korean soldiers were either killed or wounded during recent clashes over the weekend. However, these claims have yet to be independently verified.

The North Korean troops, lacking prior combat experience, reportedly spent their initial weeks in Russia undergoing training and performing support roles. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky indicated that Russian forces had begun deploying a “significant number” of these troops in assaults across a region of Kursk that Ukraine has occupied since a surprise incursion in August.

Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder stated that U.S. intelligence believes North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat alongside Russian forces and have sustained both fatal and non-fatal injuries. While Ryder did not disclose specific casualty figures, he noted that the North Koreans have been involved in combat for just over a week, primarily in infantry roles within the Kursk region, suggesting they have not yet been sent into Ukraine itself.

The GUR reported that North Korean casualties occurred in the villages of Plekhovo, Vorobzha, and Martynovka during intense fighting on Saturday and Sunday. President Zelensky shared drone footage on Telegram that purportedly showed North Korean troops taking cover after an assault on Ukrainian positions. He also released footage alleging that Russian forces were attempting to obscure the presence of North Koreans on the battlefield by burning the faces of deceased soldiers.

“There is not a single reason for North Koreans to die in this war,” Zelensky remarked, emphasizing the tragedy of their involvement. The Kremlin has refrained from commenting on the reported deaths, referring inquiries to the Russian Ministry of Defence, which has remained silent.

In response to North Korea’s military involvement, the European Union, along with countries including the UK, US, Australia, and South Korea, has labeled it a “dangerous expansion” with significant implications for security in both Europe and the Indo-Pacific region. This week, the U.S. Treasury Department also announced sanctions targeting nine individuals and seven entities linked to financial and military support for North Korea.