Around 300 North Korean Soldiers Killed, 2,700 Wounded in Ukraine Conflict, South Korean Lawmaker Reveals

Approximately 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed and 2,700 wounded while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, according to South Korean intelligence reports. The figures were shared by South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun, who cited a briefing from Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The North Korean soldiers, believed to be from the country’s elite Storm Corps, are reportedly being deployed as part of an agreement between North Korea and Russia. In exchange for sending over 10,000 troops to fight in Ukraine, North Korea has received Russian assistance with its weapons and satellite programs.

In addition to the casualties, Lee reported that some soldiers had been pressured by their commanders to commit suicide or self-detonate if captured by Ukrainian forces, citing memos found among deceased soldiers. One soldier, about to be captured, reportedly attempted to detonate a grenade while shouting “General Kim Jong Un” before being shot by Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently confirmed the capture of two North Korean soldiers, releasing a video showing them being interrogated. In the footage, one of the captured soldiers said he had been told he was only participating in training, not fighting in the war. Zelensky suggested the possibility of a prisoner exchange, with Ukraine offering to hand over the captured North Koreans in exchange for Ukrainian soldiers held by Russia.

The deployment of North Korean forces to Ukraine has led to increased casualties, with the NIS attributing the high death toll to the soldiers’ lack of modern warfare training. Despite these losses, North Korea continues to support Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, as part of their deepening military and political ties.

Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has officially acknowledged the presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine, but the ongoing cooperation between the two countries is widely recognized, with Russia reportedly seeking assistance from North Korea on weapons and space-related technologies.