Nearly 5,000 North Korean Casualties Reported in Ukraine War

North Korea’s secretive role in the Ukraine war is no longer just speculation.

The country has now openly admitted to sending thousands of soldiers to fight alongside Russia. This is the first time Pyongyang has confirmed its involvement.

South Korean lawmakers revealed new numbers on the scale of North Korea’s losses.

About 15,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Ukraine. Of those, nearly 4,700 have been wounded or killed, reports Ziare.

Around 600 are confirmed dead. These figures come from South Korea’s intelligence agency, which briefed parliament members earlier this week.

North Korea has long had a weak and outdated military. But the war has pushed its soldiers to adapt.

Over the last six months, they have become more capable. They are using newer weapons like drones and missile systems.

South Korean lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun said the soldiers have “become less inept.” He added that their fighting skills have improved noticeably.

In return for its support, North Korea has received military technology from Russia.

This includes help with satellites, drones, and air defense systems. These tools are valuable to Kim Jong Un’s regime, which is hungry for modern equipment.

The North Korean dead are not being buried in Ukraine. Reports say the bodies are cremated in the Russian city of Kursk. Their ashes are sent back to North Korea.

This military alliance has also led to more workers being sent to Russia. Around 15,000 North Koreans are believed to be working there now.

Labor exports are a major source of income for Pyongyang, although they are banned under U.N. sanctions.

The deployment marks a major shift. North Korea is rarely seen sending troops abroad.

But now it is fully backing Russia, both with manpower and weapons. In return, it gains support for its own military and space programs.

The partnership has tightened ties between two isolated countries, both looking to resist international pressure.

The war in Ukraine has created strange alliances. North Korea and Russia now stand side by side on the battlefield.