North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in Russia’s Kursk region have not been seen for several weeks, according to Ukrainian military officials, following reports of significant casualties among the Pyongyang contingent. The withdrawal comes as multiple sources, including Ukrainian and U.S. officials, report that North Korean units suffered heavy losses in battles against Ukrainian forces.
Colonel Oleksandr Kindratenko, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SOF), told CNN that North Korean troops had not been observed in combat zones for approximately three weeks and were “probably forced to withdraw after suffering heavy losses.” Separately, an undisclosed Ukrainian military intelligence source confirmed to The Kyiv Independent that North Korean forces had been pulled back, saying, “These are standard measures – rotation due to large casualties.” Unnamed Ukrainian and U.S. officials also informed The New York Times that Pyongyang’s troops were withdrawn after experiencing severe battlefield losses.
Since their deployment last fall, North Korean troops have reportedly engaged in intense combat, often advancing with minimal armored support. Ukrainian officials and frontline soldiers have described their tactics as reckless, with some fighters choosing to detonate grenades rather than surrender.
Reports also suggest that North Korean troops have struggled against modern warfare techniques, particularly drone attacks. A commander with Ukraine’s 6th Special Operations Forces regiment told CNN that while North Korean fighters were “young, trained, and hardy,” they had little experience with modern battlefields, saying, “They are prepared for the realities of war in 1980 at best.”
Estimates vary on North Korean casualties. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak recently stated that one-third of the 12,000-strong North Korean force deployed to Kursk had perished. Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, provided a higher estimate, saying on Jan. 19 that roughly half of the North Korean troops had been killed or injured. Military analysts attribute these high casualty rates to outdated tactics, poor battlefield adaptation, and the reported unwillingness of North Korean fighters to retreat.
North Korea’s involvement in the conflict is part of a broader military and strategic partnership with Russia. U.S. intelligence sources suggest that Pyongyang has supplied Russia with millions of artillery shells, rockets, and missiles in exchange for oil, food, and weapons technology. The partnership was further reinforced last summer when Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a renewed mutual defense treaty. Analysts believe that Kim’s support for Russia in Ukraine is aimed at securing long-term military assistance and diplomatic backing from Moscow, particularly at the United Nations.
