The ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia continues to draw global attention, with new reports shedding light on North Korea's involvement.
North Korean troops have reportedly suffered heavy casualties while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk Oblast region of Russia, reports the Kyiv Independent.
These losses raise questions about the role and effectiveness of these soldiers in the conflict.
A senior U.S. military official recently reported that hundreds of North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in the battles in Kursk Oblast.
The official did not provide exact numbers but noted that many of the casualties can be attributed to the troops’ lack of experience in combat.
Since August, Russia is believed to have deployed over 10,000 North Korean soldiers to bolster its efforts against Ukrainian forces in the region.
Ukrainian Special Operations Forces claimed they killed 50 North Korean soldiers and injured another 47 within just three days of fighting.
However, the true scale of losses remains unclear. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia is attempting to conceal the extent of North Korean casualties.
Despite inflicting significant damage on Russian and North Korean forces, Ukraine is facing increasing challenges on the battlefield in Kursk Oblast.
The Russians appear to have an advantage in both manpower and equipment.
The fighting intensifies
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that Russian and North Korean forces have launched a concentrated offensive in the area.
For three consecutive days, the fighting has been particularly intense.
Reports suggest that Ukraine has lost approximately half of the territory it initially reclaimed during an earlier phase of the conflict in August and September.
This setback is attributed to the redeployment of Ukraine’s elite units, which were instrumental in earlier successes.
Analysts believe Ukraine is holding onto Russian territory as leverage for future negotiations.
As the conflict drags on, there is speculation that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump may push for peace talks, making these territorial gains a key bargaining tool for Kyiv.
