The official did not provide details on the exact number of deaths, but mentioned that North Korean forces do not appear combat-hardened, which contributes to the number of casualties they have had.
The official provided the first significant estimate of North Korean losses, which comes several weeks after Ukraine announced that North Korea had sent 10,000 to 12,000 troops to Russia to help in the war that has lasted since almost 3 years.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to provide a U.S. assessment of the war. The White House and Pentagon confirmed Monday that North Korean forces were fighting on the front lines in primarily infantry positions. They fought with Russian units and, in some cases, independently around Kursk.
North Korean soldiers die in the Russo-Ukrainian war (Newsworthy French/VideoElephant)
Ukrainian and Russian forces are engaged in a fierce battle around Kursk, and the official said Russia has been able to retake about 20% of the territory captured by Kyiv. He said it would be possible for Ukraine to hold on for a while, but that will depend on how the rest of the fight goes, including long-range strikes launched by Kyiv.
