Over 100 North Korean Soldiers Killed in Ukraine Conflict, South Korean MP Reports

More than 100 North Korean soldiers have been killed since joining the conflict in Ukraine on the Russian side earlier this month, according to a South Korean MP. Lee Sung-kwon, speaking to the media after a briefing by the country’s National Intelligence Service, revealed that another 1,000 soldiers have been injured, including high-ranking officers. The casualties are attributed to the troops’ unfamiliarity with the terrain and modern warfare tactics, particularly drone operations.

In October, it was reported that North Korea had sent 10,000 soldiers to support Russia’s military efforts. These troops are believed to have spent their initial weeks in Russia training for combat and fulfilling support roles. However, recent reports indicate that they were deployed to the Russian-held Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces are defending a small area of territory.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the use of a “significant number” of North Korean soldiers in assaults in the Kursk region, though they are not believed to be fighting on the front lines in eastern Ukraine. Lee Sung-kwon’s sources suggest the casualties occurred due to North Korean forces being used as expendable frontline assault units, with limited knowledge of drones, which have become a dominant feature in the modern battlefield.

Despite the high casualties, reports suggest that Russia is preparing for further deployments of North Korean troops, potentially with the involvement of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in overseeing training. Neither Russia nor North Korea have officially acknowledged the deployment of troops, but North Korean state media has praised its alliance with Russia as a counter to Western influence.