more than 1,100 North Korean troops engaged in Russia killed or injured, South Korea says

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.

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). 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. According to intelligence gathered by South Korea, 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”still believes 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”alerts 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.