Six hundred North Korean troops perished in battle while serving Russia, according to a South Korean legislator's claim.
First Scoop:
Pyongyang's Play in the East: North Korean casualties in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine are said to be staggering, with approximately 600 soldiers confirmed dead and over 4,000 injured[1], according to a South Korean parliament member.
This sobering assessment follows Pyongyang's admission of troop deployment in aid of Russia, initially confirmed by the state news agency Kour[2]. Reports indicate that these soldiers have assisted Moscow in reclaiming territories previously under Ukrainian control, specifically in the Russian border region of Kursk[2].
Behind the Curtain:
Russia has been tight-lipped about the North's participation in the ongoing conflict, but it has been rumored that Pyongyang has dispatched thousands of troops[3]. The South Korean lawmaker estimates that around 2,000 injured soldiers have been returned to North Korea[1] and are currently under isolation in Pyongyang and various locations across the country.
A Shifting Battlefield:
The number of clashes in the area appear to have decreased since around March, with accounts of misconduct within North Korean forces emerging since then. These accounts include instances of excessive drinking and theft[1]. It's also worth noting that some experts estimate that the actual death toll could be significantly higher, with British intelligence estimating around 5,000 troops killed or wounded by March[4].
- Reports suggest that Pyongyang has been deploying thousands of troops in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a move that has been rumored but not officially confirmed by Russia.
- The South Korean parliament member has confirmed that North Korean casualties reached approximately 600 dead and over 4,000 injured, with around 2,000 injured soldiers returning to North Korea and being isolated in Pyongyang and various locations across the country.
- Misconduct within North Korean forces, such as excessive drinking and theft, have been reported since the number of clashes in the area appeared to decrease around March.
- Some experts estimate the actual death toll could be significantly higher, with British intelligence estimating around 5,000 North Korean troops killed or wounded by March, highlighting the potential seriousness of this war-and-conflict-related politics general news.
