Seoul estimates North Korean losses against Ukrainians at 1,100

More than 1,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured in fighting against Ukrainian forces, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Monday.“We estimate that North Korean troops, who recently went into battle against Ukrainian forces, suffered approximately 1,100 casualties”the JCS said in a statement.

“Rocket launchers and self-propelled cannons”

The South Korean general staff has also observed preparations which make it believe that North Korea is preparing to send new troops to Russia, as reinforcements or to relieve those already fighting. Intelligence gathered by South Korea indicates that the North “is producing and delivering drones that can self-destruct” to Russia, to which it also supplies “240mm rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled cannons”further indicates the JCS.

The South Korean military believes North Korea is seeking to modernize its conventional warfare capabilities with Russian assistance, based on its combat experience against Ukrainian forces. “This could lead to an increase in the North’s military threat against us”estimates the JCS. Several thousand North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia in recent weeks to support the Russian army, according to Westerners. For its part, the Kremlin has each time evaded questions on the subject, not wanting to confirm this information. North Korea has also never confirmed or denied the presence of its troops alongside Russia.

Russia claims capture of village in eastern Ukraine

Russia claimed Monday the capture of a new village in eastern Ukraine, about fifteen kilometers from the borders of the Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, where its troops have the advantage against Ukrainian soldiers in difficulty.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that its forces had “released” the village of Storojévé, in the eastern region of Donetsk. It is located very close to the small town of Velyka Novossilka, which its soldiers seem to be encircling.