War in Ukraine –
More than a thousand North Korean soldiers were killed or injured
South Korea provides an estimate of the losses suffered by its neighbor's troops engaged on the battlefield in Ukraine.
Published today at 8:30 a.m.
Several thousand North Korean troops have been sent to Russia in recent weeks, according to the West.
AFP
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More than 1,000 North Korean soldiers were killed or injured fighting alongside Russia against Ukraine, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) estimated Monday.
“We estimate that North Korean troops, who recently engaged in combat 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.
“Rocket launchers”
Intelligence gathered by South Korea indicates that the North is “producing and delivering self-destructing drones” to Russia, to which it is also supplying “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,” said 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.
“Intense offensive operations”
On December 17, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Syrsky, declared that the Russian army was carrying out “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. It provides for “immediate military aid” in the event of armed aggression by a third country.
AFP
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