North Korean soldiers have been killed in combat with Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk border region, according to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency and the Pentagon. These are the first reported casualties since the U.S. and Ukraine revealed that North Korea had deployed 10,000 to 12,000 troops to assist Russia in its ongoing war.
“We do assess that North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat in Kursk alongside Russian forces. We do have indications that they have suffered casualties, both killed and wounded,” Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said.
According to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (GUR), around 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded in clashes over the weekend near the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba, and Martynovka, close to the Ukrainian border. GUR also reported that at least three North Korean soldiers went missing during the battles.
A Ukrainian drone unit released video footage allegedly showing over 20 North Korean casualties in a snowy field, though the identities could not be independently verified. Additional drone footage near Plekhovo showed troops retreating and dragging casualties on sleds.
🔞Special Operations Forces showed footage of a hunt for mercenaries from North Korea in the Kursk region.
The DPRK army suffered losses of at least 30 soldiers killed and wounded.#UkraineWar #NorthKorea pic.twitter.com/7naluWiWOg
— Russian Propaganda 🚫 (@RussianPropX) December 16, 2024
The United States and Ukraine estimate that 10,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia to support its war effort. Until recently, they had not been involved in direct combat. North Korean soldiers have now been deployed specifically in the Kursk region, where Russia has struggled to push back Ukrainian forces since Ukraine’s offensive in August.
Ukrainian sources reported that North Korean infantry units used outdated tactics reminiscent of the Korean War, advancing in waves despite heavy losses. Ukrainian military blogger Yuriy Butusov said the attacks were supported by Russian artillery and electronic warfare but noted that North Korean forces did not attempt to evacuate their wounded.
The language barrier between Russian and North Korean troops has caused significant coordination challenges, according to the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War. “The poor integration and ongoing communication problems between Russian and North Korean forces will likely continue to cause friction,” ISW reported.
