The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported on Monday that over the weekend, at least 30 North Korean soldiers were killed or injured in clashes in the western Kursk region of Russia. As a result, reinforcements have been dispatched to bolster frontline units.
According to a statement on their official Telegram channel, the GUR noted that North Korean army units are currently undergoing re-equipping following the losses sustained during assaults near the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba, and Martynovka in the Kursk region. The GUR specified that on December 14 and 15, units of the DPRK army suffered significant casualties, with at least 30 soldiers being affected.
Additional information from the GUR indicated that three North Korean troops were reported missing in the vicinity of the village of Kurilovka in Kursk. To address the losses incurred in the clashes, fresh personnel, including members from the 94th separate brigade of the DPRK army, are being deployed to sustain active combat operations in the area.
The GUR also highlighted that combined units of Russian and North Korean troops experienced around 200 total casualties, with Ukrainian FPV drones reportedly inflicting severe losses among the North Korean forces. Furthermore, language barriers between North Korean and Russian troops were said to be complicating battlefield coordination, leading to incidents such as a friendly fire episode in which North Korean troops mistakenly fired upon Chechen vehicles, resulting in the deaths of eight fighters.
It was revealed that Pyongyang had deployed up to 12,000 troops to Russia in recent months, with a focus on the Kursk region where Ukrainian forces had previously seized ground in an unexpected offensive. Sources suggested that North Korean troops might be part of approximately 50,000 personnel preparing for a significant counteroffensive in Kursk.
Russian authorities have asserted their unwillingness to engage in peace negotiations while Kursk remains partially occupied, framing Ukraine’s control over Russian territory as a key bargaining chip. The deployment of North Korean troops signified an elevated level of cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, with the two countries strengthening ties since Russia’s incursion into Ukraine in 2022, including North Korea’s provision of artillery munitions and ballistic missiles.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed concern over reports that North Korean soldiers were now being utilized in Russian military operations, specifically in the Kursk region. He emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to defending itself against any adversaries, including North Korean forces, and reaffirmed the country’s resolve to work with international partners to bring an end to the conflict decisively and secure lasting peace.
The situation underscores the escalating tensions in the region, as Ukrainian forces report significant casualties among North Korean troops in Kursk, reflecting the complex dynamics at play in the ongoing conflict.
