Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that Russian forces have begun using soldiers from North Korea in their assaults along the front lines in Ukraine. The 250-square-mile salient, carved out by Ukrainian troops in August, has seen increased activity with North Korean infantry conducting mass assaults.
According to Zelensky, the Russians are integrating North Korean troops into consolidated units and deploying them in operations in the Kursk region. The news comes as daily Russian losses have spiked, exceeding 2,000 killed and wounded on some recent days.
The use of North Korean troops has become crucial for Russia’s war effort, with estimates suggesting that up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers are being used to make up for Russian recruitment gaps. These troops have also been deployed with vehicles, munitions, and artillery equipment to bolster the Russian invasion.
Visual evidence of dead North Koreans could confirm the claim, as losses in this category are already noticeable. The deployment of North Korean staff officers has added another layer of complexity to the conflict, with some even coming under fire from Ukrainian cruise missiles.
While details are scarce, Zelensky’s claims suggest that North Korean troops may be concentrated primarily in and around Kursk, Putin’s main preoccupation as the US President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration looms. However, it is unclear whether these reinforcements will remain focused on this area or be deployed elsewhere to patch up Russian field armies.
This development has raised concerns about the potential for increased instability in Ukraine-Russia-US relations, with some analysts warning that more evidence is needed to confirm the involvement of North Korean troops.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/12/14/north-korean-forces-may-have-launched-mass-infantry-assaults-in-kursk