Ukrainian soldiers have reportedly killed or wounded several hundred North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk Region, according to a senior military official cited by the Associated Press.
The official noted that the high number of North Korean casualties is primarily due to their lack of combat experience. While the exact number of fatalities was not disclosed, this marks the first significant estimate of North Korean losses in the conflict.
Weeks earlier, Ukraine announced that North Korea had deployed 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia. Both the White House and the Pentagon recently confirmed that North Korean forces are actively participating in the war, serving mainly in infantry roles alongside Russian units and, at times, independently.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) also intercepted communications indicating heavy DPRK losses. Over 200 wounded North Korean soldiers have reportedly been transported to a hospital near Moscow.
The deployment of North Korean troops highlights growing international involvement in the conflict, with Ukraine continuing to resist Russian forces on multiple fronts.