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Pentagon addresses DPRK troops’ role in Russia’s offensive

Pentagon addresses DPRK troops’ role in Russia’s offensive Photo: The United States has not yet confirmed the involvement of the DPRK military in the offensive against Ukraine (Getty Images)
Author: Bohdan Babaiev

The US Department of Defense currently has no evidence of active North Korean military involvement in the fighting against Ukraine alongside Russia. However, the situation could change at any moment, reports Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

"To this point, we have not seen North Korean soldiers actively engaging in offensive combat operations on the front lines. Although we do expect at a certain point in time that that will very likely happen," said General Ryder.

He noted that North Korean troops have been integrated into Russian units in many cases and that the Pentagon is aware of reports of North Korean soldiers killed in Ukrainian strikes on Russian targets.

At the same time, General Ryder added that the exact number of North Korean casualties remains unknown.

DPRK troops' involvement in the war against Ukraine

In November, North Korea sent troops to Russia for further participation in offensive operations against Ukraine. Specifically, these troops are expected to assist in the liberation of areas in the Kursk region controlled by Ukrainian forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that by the end of November, 11,000 North Korean troops were stationed in Russia, with their numbers potentially rising to 100,000.

Previously, some soldiers reported the involvement of North Korean forces in fighting in the Kharkiv region. However, the Ukrainian military denied these reports.

According to the Financial Times, Ukrainian forces attacked a sanatorium in Maryino, Kursk region, resulting in the wounding of a general and the death of several North Korean soldiers. This information has not been officially confirmed.

Meanwhile, troops from one of Ukraine's assault brigades destroyed a North Korean Bulsae-4 anti-tank missile system.