North Korean troops absent from Russia's Kursk after losses
South Korea's Intelligence Service (NIS) reported on Tuesday that since mid-January, there have been no North Korean soldiers on the front line in the Kursk region in western Russia. Recently, the Ukrainian army announced the withdrawal of North Korean troops due to "heavy losses."
"Since mid-January, there have been no signs showing North Korean troops deployed to the Russian Kursk region engaging in battle" the intelligence from Seoul reported, suggesting that one reason for their absence is the heavy losses they have suffered.
The spokesperson for Ukrainian Special Operations, Colonel Oleksandr Kindratenko, confirmed last week the lack of activity from North Korean troops in the region. His statement was the first official confirmation of earlier media reports suggesting the withdrawal of troops due to significant losses.
According to data from mid-January, North Korean forces may have lost about 4,000 soldiers in the battles.
The fighting in Kursk continues
Sources from "The New York Times" do not rule out that North Korean soldiers might return to the front after undergoing additional training. There is also the possibility of the Russians developing new strategies for troop deployment to minimize losses.
Hostile attacks in the Kursk region continue, but the Russian occupiers are using significantly less equipment. This may indicate difficulties in resource allocation or a change in enemy tactics, reported the Ukrainian agency UNIAN.
North Korean soldiers in Russia
Ukrainian troops entered the Kursk region on August 6, 2024. Their goal was to force Russia to redirect some forces from the Donbas in eastern Ukraine. These actions were part of a broader military strategy by Ukraine.
According to authorities in Seoul, Kim Jong Un sent over 10,000 soldiers to Russia in exchange for technical assistance in weapons and satellite programs. This cooperation results from strict sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.
