North Koreans Killed in Kursk as They Join Russia-Ukraine War Intensely

Over the weekend, North Korean soldiers began returning home in body bags after joining the Russia-Ukraine war in significant numbers for the first time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Russia had deployed North Korean forces in substantial numbers to assist with their military operations, particularly in the Russian region of Kursk. This marked a new phase of the conflict, with Ukraine’s military intelligence reporting that North Korean troops were fighting alongside elite Russian Marine and Airborne units.

According to the Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate (GUR), North Korean soldiers were stationed at various frontline positions in Kursk, a region that Ukraine has been counter-attacking in its ongoing campaign. The GUR indicated that the soldiers were involved in heavy combat, with significant casualties on both sides. Early reports estimated that 200 soldiers, both Russian and North Korean, had been killed or wounded on the first day of fighting. These losses were compounded by a tragic incident in which eight North Korean soldiers were killed after mistakenly firing on Chechen troops from the Akhmat Battalion. The GUR noted that the language barrier between the North Koreans and other Russian troops made coordination difficult, leading to several cases of friendly fire.

The majority of the North Korean casualties occurred during attempts to retake Russian villages near the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian forces reported that North Korean soldiers were involved in attempts to recapture Plekhovo, a village just 2 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, as well as Vorozhba and Martynovka, located deeper inside Russian territory. These engagements were marked by intense drone warfare, with Ukrainian forces using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to strike targets and gather intelligence. The Ukrainian Marine Corps unit “Birds of Magyar” released footage showing the aftermath of one such engagement, capturing images of fallen North Korean soldiers with their faces covered.

The brutality of the conflict was further underscored by reports from other Ukrainian military units. The Faust Unit of Ukraine’s Special Forces, which specializes in drone warfare, claimed to have killed or wounded 33 North Korean soldiers in Kursk. The unit noted that the North Koreans, although unfamiliar with the Russian tactics of freezing when faced with drone attacks, had begun to adapt by attempting to shoot down the drones or flee from them. Despite these efforts, they were unable to effectively counter the Ukrainian drones, which continued to cause heavy casualties.

Other Ukrainian units, such as the 8th Regiment of Special Forces, also reported significant success against North Korean forces. Between Saturday and Monday, they claimed to have killed 50 North Korean soldiers and wounded 47 others. Meanwhile, the 95th Polissia Airborne Assault Brigade reported killing more than 50 North Korean soldiers in just two days, with an additional 100 wounded. However, the brigade emphasized that they would only officially label these casualties as Korean mercenaries after capturing a North Korean prisoner who could provide firsthand testimony.

As the battle in Kursk intensified, Ukrainian military intelligence revealed that North Korean troops were adjusting their tactics. After suffering heavy losses, they began setting up additional observation posts in an attempt to detect and counter Ukrainian drone strikes. However, these efforts were largely unsuccessful, as Ukrainian forces continued to use drones effectively, inflicting further damage.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy expressed his outrage over the use of North Korean soldiers in the conflict, stating that there was no reason for the Koreans to fight and die for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also condemned the Russian forces for their attempts to conceal the deaths of North Korean soldiers, claiming that the Russians had resorted to burning the faces of the fallen in order to obscure their identities. Zelenskyy further remarked that the North Koreans would face mockery and dishonor, even after death, as Russia continued to exploit them as mercenaries.

To date, there has been no official response from either the Russian government or North Korea regarding the deaths of their soldiers in the Kursk region. The involvement of North Korean troops in the conflict represents a significant escalation, highlighting the increasingly complex nature of the war and the willingness of both sides to recruit foreign soldiers to fight on their behalf. The continued use of drone warfare by Ukraine has proven to be a decisive factor in these engagements, leading to heavy casualties for the North Korean forces, who were unprepared for the technological sophistication of their opponents.