Camilla Jessen
North Korea has lost more than 6,000 troops while conducting offensive operations against Ukrainian forces.
North Korea has suffered heavy losses while fighting for Russia in Ukraine’s war.
More than 6,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed during offensive operations in Russia’s Kursk region, according to a report from the UK Ministry of Defence on June 15, based on British intelligence.
Over Half of Troops Lost
The report states that North Korea initially deployed around 11,000 troops to the area. The casualties now account for more than half of that number.
North Korea has sent only a small number of reinforcements to Kursk since then.
British intelligence said that the heavy losses were likely caused by large-scale, high-risk ground attacks. These “highly attritional dismounted assaults” have resulted in significant DPRK casualty rates.
The report comes as international concern grows over North Korea’s increasing involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
On June 4, Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu visited North Korea for talks with leader Kim Jong Un. This was Shoigu’s second visit to the country in less than three months.
British intelligence said Shoigu is “almost certainly a key intermediary” in negotiations over North Korea’s support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.