Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Monday that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured while fighting for Russia in the western Kursk region. The revelation came after a briefing from General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Kyiv’s top military commander, regarding the ongoing battle in Kursk, which began in August following a surprise cross-border incursion by Ukrainian forces.
“There are risks of sending additional soldiers and military equipment to the Russian army from North Korea,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram, pledging “tangible responses” to any such actions. He stated that preliminary data shows over 3,000 casualties among North Korean forces deployed in Kursk.
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Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) claimed responsibility for more than 100 North Korean casualties over the past three days. On Sunday, the SSO released photos allegedly showing deceased North Korean soldiers and fabricated Russian military identity documents, which they say indicate efforts to disguise the soldiers’ origins.
“Russia is trying to hide the presence of military personnel from North Korea by issuing them with fake documents,” the SSO stated, pointing to inconsistencies such as patronymics styled in Russian and places of birth listed as the Republic of Tuva, a region in southern Siberia.
Up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers are currently believed to be in Russia, according to U.S., South Korean, and Ukrainian officials. These troops have reportedly been deployed primarily to help Russia retake positions lost to Ukraine in Kursk.
The deployment represents a significant escalation in North Korea’s support for Russia since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Pyongyang has previously provided Moscow with weapons and ammunition, including ballistic missiles.
South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that North Korea is preparing to rotate or increase its deployment of troops in Russia while continuing to supply rocket launchers, self-propelled artillery, and potentially suicide drones.
Ukrainian military intelligence has reported “significant casualties” among North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces. Ukrainian sources indicated in November that North Koreans were expected to be part of a 50,000-strong Russian counteroffensive in Kursk.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has emphasized ramping up military production, including drones, to bolster his country’s support for Russia.
Zelenskyy’s comments underscore Kyiv’s concerns about increased foreign involvement in the conflict. Ukraine has vowed to respond decisively to any further deployment of North Korean troops or military equipment.
As the battle for Kursk continues, the involvement of North Korean forces highlights the growing complexity of the war in Ukraine, with international implications as Russia deepens its alliances with other authoritarian regimes.
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