At Least 100 North Korean Soldiers Killed in Ukraine War, South Korea Reports

• At least 100 North Korean soldiers killed in Ukraine war
• Around 1,000 injured
• North Korean troops entered the conflict on Russia’s side earlier this month

At Least 100 North Korean Soldiers Killed in Ukraine War, South Korea Reports

At least 100 North Korean soldiers have been killed in the ongoing Ukraine war, according to a South Korean MP. Lee Sung-kwon revealed this information after receiving a briefing from the country’s National Intelligence Service. The casualties, which also include around 1,000 injured, are believed to have occurred since North Korean troops entered the conflict on Russia’s side earlier this month.

Lee explained that the high number of casualties could be attributed to the soldiers’ lack of experience with the terrain and unfamiliarity with drone warfare, which has played a significant role in the conflict. Some of the casualties reportedly include high-ranking officials.

This follows earlier reports from the US Pentagon, which confirmed the deaths of North Korean soldiers without specifying a number. An unnamed US official later estimated that “several hundred” North Korean troops had been killed or wounded.

North Korea had sent approximately 10,000 troops to support Russia’s efforts, with initial reports suggesting that these soldiers had spent their first weeks in Russia undergoing training and performing support roles. The casualties are believed to have occurred in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces are defending territory captured in a surprise Russian incursion in August.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also mentioned on Saturday that Russia had begun deploying a significant number of North Korean soldiers in its assaults in Kursk. However, these troops are not believed to have been involved in combat within Ukraine itself.