Ukraine’s military intelligence said on Monday that around 30 North Korean soldiers were either killed or hurt during recent fighting against Ukraine’s army. This happened in Russia’s Kursk region, where Russia has been battling a Ukrainian advance for the past four months. The Ukrainian message shared on Telegram mentioned that at least three North Korean soldiers are missing in another nearby village.
We can’t confirm these claims independently, and this is the first time we’re hearing about North Korean losses in the ongoing war that has lasted almost three years. Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, told reporters to check with Russia’s Defense Ministry, which hasn’t commented on this.
According to U.S. military officials and Ukraine, North Korea has sent about 10,000 troops to support Russia in the conflict. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has committed to standing by Russia as it continues its invasion. Experts say there are language issues causing problems for coordination between Russian and North Korean troops.
The Institute for the Study of War, a research group in Washington, noted that these communication difficulties will likely lead to more issues for Russian military efforts in Kursk in the near future. Ukrainian officials reported that their forces recently clashed with North Korean troops that have just been sent to help Russia.
Last August, Ukraine took control of land in the Kursk region, marking the first time since World War II that Ukrainian forces occupied Russian territory. This move was an embarrassment for Russia and aimed to change the negative news coming from the front lines. However, this incursion hasn’t changed the overall situation of the war much. Over the past year, Russia has generally been moving forward, particularly in the eastern region of Donetsk, despite heavy losses.
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