South Korea Reports 600 North Korean Troops Killed Fighting For Russia In Kursk

At least 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed in combat in Russia’s Kursk region, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), marking the highest confirmed toll for North Korean forces fighting in Russia’s war.

The NIS report said Pyongyang has deployed about 11,000 troops to support Russian military operations since the start of 2024. Many of these soldiers were described as poorly equipped and untrained in modern drone warfare, leading to heavy casualties. The NIS estimates around 4,700 North Korean casualties in total, including 600 dead, and said some soldiers reportedly took their own lives to avoid capture.

A military commander appeared on North Korean state television this week, stating that their mission was to help "liberate Kursk from neo-Nazis." Kremlin-aligned media outlets have also started acknowledging the presence of North Korean units, a shift from Russia’s earlier denials.

General Valery Gerasimov, head of Russia’s armed forces, praised the North Korean soldiers in a televised interview, describing them as “professional.” Earlier in the year, reports suggest that Pyongyang temporarily pulled its troops from frontline positions because of mounting casualties but later sent an additional 3,000 reinforcements.

South Korean intelligence reports that the bodies of deceased North Korean soldiers were cremated in Kursk before being returned home, possibly to conceal the war’s human toll. Ukrainian sources say a small number of North Korean troops have been captured.

While Russia claims full control over Kursk, with President Vladimir Putin declaring Ukrainian forces had been expelled and hailing the “heroism” of North Korean units, Ukraine disputes this, saying its forces are still operating in parts of the region.

North Korea’s support extends beyond personnel. Seoul estimates Pyongyang has provided Russia with about four million artillery shells and rockets, over 100 Koksan self-propelled guns, and several ballistic missiles, including KN-23s. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that one of these missiles was used in a recent strike on Kyiv that killed 12 people.

Ukrainian officials claim that up to 70% of Russian artillery fire now depends on North Korean ammunition. In exchange, Russia is reportedly offering technical aid to Pyongyang, including support for satellites, drones, and air defense systems under a 2023 strategic cooperation treaty signed by Putin and Kim Jong Un.

Related news: North Korea Declares Completion Of Military Operation In Russia’s Kursk Region