More than 1,000 North Korean soldiers were killed or injured while fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) estimated on Monday (December 23).
“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.
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-supporting 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.
“Heavy losses”
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.
On December 17, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Syrsky, declared that the Russian army was leading “intense offensive operations in the Kursk region, actively using units of the North Korean army”, adding that it had already “suffered heavy losses.”
Ukraine launched a surprise offensive in the Russian region of Kursk in early August. She still controls a small part of this territory. North Korea has never confirmed or denied the presence of its troops alongside Russia.
The two countries have strengthened military ties since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
A historic mutual defense treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow, signed in June, entered into force earlier this month. He foresees “immediate military aid” in the event of armed aggression by a third country.
