South Korean intelligence confirms North Korean troops withdrawal from Kursk region
Illustrative photo: South Korean intelligence confirmed the withdrawal of North Korean troops from the Kursk region (Getty Images)
The North Korean troops have withdrawn from the Kursk region due to significant losses. They are currently not participating in combat operations, Yonhap News reports, citing the South Korean intelligence.
South Korean intelligence released intelligence data confirming that the North Korean soldiers, who had been fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine, were withdrawn from the front lines. This occurred in mid-January, and the likely reason for this action was heavy losses.
"Since mid-January, there have been no signs showing North Korean troops deployed to the Russian Kursk region engaging in battle," stated the South Korean intelligence.
According to the estimates, North Korea sent around 11,000 soldiers to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. Of these, it is believed that 300 were killed and about 2,700 were wounded, according to the South Korean spy agency.
Strike on command post in Kursk region
According to Ukraine`s General Staff, recently, missile forces and artillery units of the Defense Forces struck the command post of the Russian Kursk military group in the city of Rylsk.
Due to the attack, the command post was destroyed. Later, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that as a result of the strike on the command post in Rylsk, Kursk region, the Russians lost dozens of key officers. This included not only Russian officers but also North Korean ones.
Earlier, The New York Times also reported that North Korean soldiers had not been seen on the front for about two weeks. Therefore, they were likely withdrawn due to heavy losses.
As the Spokesperson for the Special Operations Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kindratenko, told RBC-Ukraine, Russia had withdrawn North Korean soldiers from several directions.
