According to Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council's counter-disinformation department, the first North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia's Kursk region to support Moscow's war efforts have reportedly come under fire as of November 4.
No further information was given regarding the specifics of the engagement or any potential casualties among the North Korean forces.
The Dagens.com has not been able to independently verify these claims.
During a press conference on October 31, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that around 8,000 North Korean troops had been deployed to Russia's Kursk region to participate in the conflict against Ukraine.
Since early August, the Kursk border area has been a hotspot for intense fighting, as Ukraine initiated a cross-border offensive. Russia has stationed North Korean troops in the region to bolster defenses while its more seasoned units continue to advance in eastern Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that, if granted permission to utilize Western long-range weapons on Russian soil, Ukraine could proactively target "every camp" where North Korean forces are assembling.
Kyiv has recently cautioned that it may only be days until North Korean troops are deployed in active combat. Ukrainian authorities suspect that Russia plans to deploy an additional 12,000 North Korean soldiers, including specialized units.
Zelensky has indicated that Russia has acknowledged Pyongyang's involvement in the conflict to Western nations.
