North Korean troops killed fighting Ukraine, says US
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FILE: [Reuters]
North Korean soldiers have reportedly been killed in combat while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region of Russia, near the Ukrainian border. This marks the first reported casualties of North Korean troops since it was revealed in October that North Korea had sent approximately 10,000 soldiers to bolster Russia’s military effort in Ukraine. The United States and Ukraine have confirmed the deaths, with Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the GUR, stating that at least 30 North Korean troops were killed or wounded in fighting over the weekend.
These casualties are significant, as it is believed that North Korean troops, who are unfamiliar with combat, initially spent weeks in Russia undergoing training before being assigned to support roles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported on Saturday that Russian forces had begun deploying a “significant number” of these North Korean soldiers in attacks in Kursk, a region that Ukraine has partially occupied since launching a surprise offensive in August.
Pentagon Press Secretary Major General Pat Ryder confirmed on Monday that the U.S. believed North Korean soldiers had been involved in combat alongside Russian troops in Kursk, suffering casualties. While Ryder did not specify exact numbers, he confirmed that North Korean troops had been engaged in combat for just over a week. He noted that these soldiers appeared to be performing infantry roles and that their deployment was largely confined to the Kursk area, suggesting they had not been sent to Ukraine itself.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has seen significant advances by Russian forces, particularly in the eastern regions of the country. The GUR reported that the North Korean casualties occurred in the Kursk villages of Plekhovo, Vorobzha, and Martynovka on Saturday and Sunday. Ukrainian President Zelensky later posted drone footage on Telegram, showing men believed to be North Korean soldiers taking cover behind trees. He claimed these soldiers had just participated in an assault on a Ukrainian position.
Additionally, Zelensky shared disturbing footage that he said showed Russian forces trying to hide the presence of the North Korean soldiers on the battlefield. According to the video, Russian troops allegedly used a campfire to burn the faces of deceased North Korean soldiers to conceal their identities. Zelensky condemned the use of North Korean troops in the war, stating that there was “not a single reason for North Koreans to die in this war.”
The Russian government has not commented publicly on the deaths of the North Korean soldiers. However, the European Union and several countries, including the UK, the U.S., Australia, and South Korea, condemned North Korea’s involvement in the conflict. They called it a “dangerous expansion” with serious consequences for both European and Indo-Pacific security.
In response to North Korea’s support of Russia, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on nine individuals and seven entities linked to North Korea’s military and financial backing of Russia. These actions reflect growing international concern about North Korea’s increasing involvement in the conflict and its potential impact on global security.
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