Zelensky confirms North Korea taking large casualties

Confirming reports from Russian channels this weekend claiming North Korean casualties already surpass 500, in an interview with Kyodo News yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that some North Korean soldiers deployed to fight for Russia have already been killed, although he did not specify their numbers. It is reported that North Korea has sent between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to aid Russia’s war effort, with initial clashes occurring in the western Kursk Oblast of Russia. Zelensky suggested that Russia is treating the North Korean soldiers well to encourage more enlistments but warned that they would likely be used as “cannon fodder” to reduce Russian casualties.

Ukraine’s military intelligence spokesperson also revealed that 2,000 North Korean troops have been assigned to Russia’s Marine and airborne units, though it remains unclear if they are fighting on the front lines or supporting other operations. North Korea is a key ally for Russia, providing Moscow with ballistic missiles and artillery shells, while reportedly receiving economic aid and assistance with its nuclear weapons program in return. The involvement of North Korean forces marks an escalation in the conflict and raises concerns about regional security, particularly in terms of the training North Korean troops are receiving in modern warfare techniques, including drone usage.