Pentagon comments on DPRK troops’ effectiveness in Kursk region attacks
Photo: DPRK military (Getty Images)
The US Department of Defense does not see significant effectiveness in the participation of North Korean military personnel in battles in the Kursk region against the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Instead, North Korean forces are reportedly suffering substantial losses, according to the US Department of Defense, citing Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh.
The Pentagon official noted that the US Defense Department aligns with the recent assessment by President Joe Biden’s administration regarding the number of North Korean casualties in the Kursk region during battles alongside Russian forces against Ukrainian defenders.
"The White House recently announced that approximately 1,000 North Korean soldiers have either been killed or wounded in the Kursk region. That's our assessment as well," Singh said.
The deputy spokesperson added that attacks by North Korean troops in this region are “not proving significantly effective.”
According to Singh, North Korean forces are sustaining a “significant amount” of casualties in the Kursk region.
North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine
According to South Korean reports, North Korea has already sent approximately 11,000 soldiers to Russia to assist Moscow in its war against Ukraine. A portion of these troops was deployed to the Kursk region after undergoing training to fight alongside Russian forces against Ukraine's Armed Forces.
On December 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian forces had begun involving North Korean soldiers in battles in the Kursk region.
Recently, Seoul reported that at least 100 North Korean soldiers in Russia have been killed during combat, while another 1,000 have been injured.
On December 26, Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine also noted that North Korean forces in the Kursk region continue to suffer losses.
On December 27, President Zelenskyy stated that Russian forces and North Korean supervisors were trying to prevent North Korean soldiers from being captured. He added that there have been cases where North Korean troops were killed by their own forces.
That same day, the White House reported significant casualties among North Korean soldiers in the Russian army, with some resorting to suicide.
What the DPRK's troops give Russia and whether there is an effect on the frontline - read our separate article.
