North Korean Troops Report Over 5,000 Casualties in Kursk, Reports British Defense Ministry

The British defense ministry reports that North Korean troops have suffered over 5,000 casualties while fighting Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of Russia. Many of these casualties resulted from heavy ground assaults, representing nearly half of the troops initially sent to support Russia’s military efforts. Recent territorial gains have been made, but further deployments would need authorization from Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin.

According to a report from the British defense ministry, North Korean troops have experienced over 5,000 casualties while engaging Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of Russia. This figure indicates that roughly one-third of these casualties were fatal, as reported in an intelligence update shared on the ministry’s X account. The losses represent nearly half of the 11,000 troops North Korea initially deployed to support its military operations in Ukraine last year.

The British defense ministry expressed, “Significant DPRK casualty rates have almost certainly been sustained primarily through large, highly attritional dismounted assaults,” referring to North Korea by its formal name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Furthermore, the report stated that recently, North Korean and Russian forces have achieved some territorial progress in the Kursk area. Nevertheless, any further military operations into Ukrainian territory would require authorization from North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Last week, the South Korean military reported its own estimates, indicating North Korea has sustained approximately 4,000 casualties out of the initial 11,000 troops dispatched. Additionally, it appears that North Korea sent an extra 3,000 soldiers to Russia during January and February.

In summary, the British defense ministry’s intelligence indicates substantial North Korean casualties, totaling over 5,000, during their involvement in the Kursk region, with significant fatalities among the troops deployed to Russia. The recent military developments and the requirement for official approvals from leadership in North Korea and Russia underscore the complexity of the ongoing conflict.

Original Source: en.yna.co.kr