The U.S. government has officially confirmed the involvement and casualties of North Korean troops deployed in Russia as part of the ongoing conflict.
Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder confirmed in a press briefing on Monday, “We have intelligence indicating that North Korean forces participated in combat operations alongside Russian troops in the Kursk region. There is evidence of North Korean casualties.”
This marks the first official acknowledgment by U.S. authorities of North Korean troop engagement and casualties in the war.
While Ryder did not provide specific casualty figures, he confirmed that North Korean forces had been deployed in combat operations as recently as last week.
State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller also addressed the situation, stating, “North Korean forces have entered the conflict on the side of the Russian military, fighting against Ukrainian forces, and we have confirmed North Korean casualties on the battlefield in Russia.”
Miller further emphasized that North Korean troops in Kursk are now considered legitimate military targets under the rules of warfare. “By engaging in combat, they have become valid targets for Ukrainian forces as combatants,” he explained.
The State Department also issued a warning: any movement of North Korean troops from Kursk into Ukraine would represent a significant escalation by both the Russian and North Korean governments.
Ukraine Reports at Least 30 North Korean Casualties in Recent Attack in Kursk
Earlier, the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Directorate (DIU) reported that North Korean troops, integrated with Russian forces in the Kursk region, had suffered at least 30 casualties in recent attacks.
The DIU further claimed that both North Korean and Russian airborne and marine units sustained significant losses during Ukraine’s counteroffensive operations, estimating the total number of casualties at approximately 200.
In addition, Ukraine’s 414th Attack Drone Regiment shared images on its official Telegram channel showing multiple bodies lying in a snow-covered field. The Ukrainian forces claimed the bodies belonged to North Korean and Russian troops.
According to both Ukrainian and U.S. authorities, approximately 11,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These forces are currently stationed in the Kursk region.
Kursk, located in southwestern Russia, is a border area where Ukrainian forces entered on August 6, 2023, and captured some territory. Ukrainian troops have been engaged in ongoing clashes with Russian forces in the region.
It is believed that the majority of North Korean military personnel are concentrated in this strategic area, potentially as part of Russia’s broader efforts to strengthen its forces in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
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