The US government says over 1,000 North Korean soldiers were killed or wounded fighting Ukrainian troops in Russia’s Kursk region. This comes as a significant blow to Pyongyang’s deployment figures, amounting to almost 10% of its forces in the area.
US national security spokesman John F. Kirby revealed the numbers during a call with reporters, saying “I hope they’re loading up their commanders with a bunch of body bags”. He attributed the heavy losses to Russian and North Korean military leaders treating the troops as expendable and ordering them on hopeless assaults against Ukrainian defenses.
The deployment was initially believed to be a sign of desperation by Russia, but US intelligence agencies now say it’s North Korea’s idea. The North Koreans have embedded with Russian units, mounting a counteroffensive against Ukrainian soldiers holding territory in the Kursk region since the summer.
US officials believe Kim Jong-un is seeking support from Russia in diplomatic disputes and potential future conflicts. However, he has not received immediate aid from Moscow. Many of the deployed troops are from North Korea’s “Storm” Corps, special forces that lack real-world combat experience and were poorly prepared for drone attacks and unfamiliar terrain.
Despite this, South Korean officials predict Kim will send more troops to Russia as he sees the conflict as an opportunity to advance his military and diplomatic ambitions. US officials describe the situation as dire, saying “these North Korean soldiers appear to be highly indoctrinated, pushing attacks even when it’s clear those attacks are futile”.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/27/us/politics/north-korea-russia-war-casualties.html