Pentagon estimates North Korea lost several hundred soldiers in Ukraine war
The Pentagon said that the DPRK lost “several hundred” soldiers in the war against Ukraine, both killed and wounded, reports The New York Times.
A senior Pentagon military official said at a closed briefing that Ukrainian troops had killed or wounded “several hundred” North Korean soldiers who were sent to help Russia in the war against Ukraine.
According to the Pentagon, Russia has concentrated about 50,000 Russian and North Korean troops to push Ukrainian forces out of the border areas of the Kursk region.
According to a US official, North Korean soldiers were not battle-hardened. Ukraine struck at their command centers and infantry positions.
DPRK helps Russia
North Korea is one of Russia's main allies. Pyongyang has handed over ammunition and ballistic missiles to Moscow to fire at Ukraine.
In the fall of 2024, the DPRK deployed thousands of its military to Russia. They were thrown into the Kursk region, where the North Koreans are participating in hostilities together with the Russians.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, as of December 14, the combined units of Russia and North Korea have lost about 200 soldiers. The Russians are trying to hide the DPRK's losses.
The United States does not rule out the possibility that the DPRK may deploy new units of its troops to Russia. The Ukrainian Armed Forces believe that Russia may involve the North Koreans in the fighting in eastern Ukraine, given its heavy losses.