A military demonstration involving tank units and guided by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (not pictured) is held in North Korea, March 13, 2024 in this picture released on March 14, 2024, by the Korean Central News Agency. KCNA via REUTERS/File Photo
North Korean Troops Suffer Heavy Losses in Russia’s War Against Ukraine
North Korean forces supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine have faced significant casualties, with over 1,000 soldiers killed or wounded in the last week alone in Russia’s Kursk region, White House spokesperson John Kirby reported on Friday. This figure far exceeds prior U.S. estimates.
Description of Assaults
Kirby characterized the North Korean troops’ operations as “massed, dismounted assaults” and accused Russian and North Korean military leaders of treating their troops as expendable. “It is clear that Russian and North Korean military leaders are treating these troops as expendable and ordering them on hopeless assaults against Ukrainian defenses,” Kirby told reporters.
North Korea’s U.N. mission in New York and Russia’s U.N. mission declined to comment on the reports.
Casualty Estimates
Earlier in the week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that preliminary data indicated more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed or wounded in the Kursk region. A U.S. military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, noted that casualties ranged from lower-ranking soldiers to “very near to the top” of North Korean ranks.
U.S. and Ukrainian Responses
President Joe Biden is expected to approve another security assistance package for Ukraine in the coming days. This decision follows Biden’s condemnation of Russia’s Christmas Day strikes on Ukrainian energy systems and cities, as well as his directive to the Defense Department to continue its surge of weapons to Ukraine.
North Korea’s Role in the Conflict
The involvement of North Korean forces in Russia’s war against Ukraine underscores an expanding alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow. Despite international condemnation, North Korea has provided military support to Russia, raising concerns about the global implications of their partnership.
COMMENTS