North Korea's Casualties in Russia-Ukraine Conflict Revealed
Approximately 4,700 North Korean soldiers are reported to have been either killed or injured while fighting alongside Russia, according to South Korean sources.
In a shocking revelation, South Korea's spy agency, the National Intelligence Service (NIS), has disclosed that around 4,700 North Korean soldiers have met their fate on the Russia-Ukraine battlefront, with 600 of them losing their lives.[1][2][4]
This disclosure was made during a parliamentary committee briefing conducted a couple of days after North Korea confirmed sending troops to aid Russia in recapturing parts of the Kursk region. These regions were previously held by Ukraine.[1][4]
Lee Seong Kweun, one of the lawmakers who attended the meeting, has reported that 2,000 injured North Korean soldiers were repatriated between January and March, with the remainder being cremated in Russia and their ashes sent home.[1][2]
In January, the NIS had already reported about 300 North Korean soldiers losing their lives, with an additional 2,700 soldiers being injured.[4] The South Korean military revised the estimated casualties to 4,000 last month.[4]
Russia has been utilizing North Korea's troops to fill their dwindling stocks of weapons, as alleged by the U.S., South Korea, and their allies. In exchange, they are providing North Korea with military and economic assistance.[4]
According to another lawmaker, Kim Byung-kee, who was present at the NIS briefing, Russia has offered North Korea air defense missiles, electronic warfare equipment, drones, and satellite technology.[4]
Moreover, 15,000 North Korean laborers have reportedly been sent to Russia under industrial cooperation programs.[4] Despite the exchange of significant amounts of missiles and artillery, there's no evidence to suggest that Russia has provided North Korea with cash remittances for these transactions.[4]
Enrichment Data:
- Detailed Casualty Breakdown: The casualties can be broken down as follows: around 2,000 injured North Korean soldiers repatriated between January and March vs. approximately 2,700 wounded soldiers (unchanged from the earlier estimate). The revised total casualty count is 4,700 (an increase from the earlier estimate of 4,000).[1][2][4]
- Consequences for North Korea: North Korean troops gained valuable combat experience in Ukraine, using modern weaponry including drones, over the course of six months. The reduced combat activity reported since March indicates a military conflict that may be close to resolution for Russia.[2]
- Defense Agreement: The two nations struck a defense pact in 2024, allowing Pyongyang to provide troops and armaments in exchange for Moscow's technical assistance on satellites, drones, and missiles.[4]
- Additional troops: Earlier dispatches included around 10,000-12,000 soldiers last fall, with an additional 3,000 troops sent earlier this year.[4]
- In the realm of general news, a parliamentary committee briefing revealed that South Korea's intelligence service, the NIS, disclosed that around 4,700 North Korean soldiers have been casualties in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with 600 of them losing their lives.
- Amidst this war-and-conflicts landscape, 2,000 injured North Korean soldiers were repatriated between January and March, while the remaining casualties were cremated in Russia and their ashes sent home.
- The politics of the situation unfolded as Russia, facing dwindling stocks of weapons, allegedly utilized North Korean troops and offered them military and economic assistance in exchange.
- Concurrently, 15,000 North Korean laborers were reportedly sent to Russia under industrial cooperation programs, providing opportunities for both countries in the realm of business and technology.
- A firsthand account from lawmaker Kim Byung-kee during the NIS briefing revealed that Russia had offered North Korea air defense missiles, electronic warfare equipment, drones, and satellite technology.
- Despite the exchange of significant amounts of missiles and artillery between Russia and North Korea, there's no evidence to suggest that Russia has provided cash remittances for these transactions, offering a glimpse into the intricate dynamics of politics and economics.
