Nearly third of North Korean Troops in Ukraine killed or wounded: Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that nearly a third of the estimated 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean soldiers deployed with Russian forces in Ukraine have been killed or wounded.

These troops, reportedly sent by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, began combat operations in December 2024 after arriving in Russia in October.

The North Korean forces are fighting in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched a cross-border offensive in August 2024. Ukrainian troops still control about half the territory they captured during the offensive.

Key Developments:

Zelensky stated that approximately 3,800 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured in Kursk.

In a recent battle near a Kursk village, Moscow reportedly lost up to a battalion of troops, including North Korean soldiers and Russian paratroopers.

U.S. and South Korean estimates suggest around 1,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed in recent fighting.

Background:

The deployment of North Korean soldiers to Russia underscores deepening ties between Moscow and Pyongyang amid Russia’s high troop losses. Some North Korean troops reportedly belong to Pyongyang’s special forces and have been used for mass assaults on Ukrainian positions, which have proven ineffective.

U.S. and Ukrainian Reactions:

White House official John Kirby has described the North Korean troops as being treated as “expendable” by Russian and North Korean military leaders.

Ukrainian forces have reportedly captured several North Korean soldiers, although they were critically injured and could not be resuscitated.

Kirby also noted reports of North Korean soldiers committing suicide rather than surrendering, fearing reprisals against their families in North Korea.

What’s Next:

Casualty figures are expected to rise as fighting continues in Kursk, with North Korean troops struggling to make a significant impact on Russia’s efforts to regain lost territory.

Credit: Newsweek