An estimated 12,000 North Korean soldiers deployed in Russia’s Kursk region could face total casualties by mid-April 2025 if current loss rates persist, according to a January 16 report by the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that 3,800 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in the region.
In November, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had described North Korean involvement as limited to “small-scale” skirmishes. However, Russian military bloggers later claimed that these troops began engaging in more intensive combat operations in December 2024.
The ISW estimates that North Korean forces are losing approximately 92 soldiers per day in large-scale battles.
If this trend continues, the entire contingent could be eliminated within 12 weeks, possibly by mid-April.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service reported on January 13 that 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed in action, with 2,700 wounded since their deployment. The ISW further noted that North Korean forces are experiencing a higher ratio of wounded to killed, which is typical of many armed conflicts.
It remains uncertain whether injured soldiers will return to the battlefield.
In a separate development, reports have indicated that North Korean troops are expected to participate in Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow on May 9.
