US sees no signs of North Korean troops' presence in Ukraine - Pentagon
The Pentagon states that they do not detect North Korean troops on Ukrainian territory (Illustrative photo: Getty Images)
The US has not observed any indications of North Korean military personnel being present in Ukraine to support Russia in its war efforts. However, North Korean troops have been reported in Russia’s Kursk region, states Sabrina Singh, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, during a briefing in Washington.
A Pentagon representative addressed unverified reports about the possible presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine during a discussion with journalists.
"Don't have any indications that there are DPRK soldiers in Ukraine," said the US official.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh added that the US has observed North Korean military personnel stationed around the Kursk region, but, as you know, at this point, they are not moving into Ukraine.
When asked by journalists whether the US had information about the reported deaths of 500 North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region following a recent strike by Ukraine's Defense Forces, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said she could neither confirm nor deny the claim.
"So, we can't independently confirm casualties of North Korean soldiers. What we've said, you know, before is that they're in that region and certainly poised to engage the Ukrainians in combat. But I can't confirm those reports that there have been casualties yet," Singh told reporters.
North Korean troops help Russia in its war against Ukraine and suffer losses
In late October, reports began emerging in the media that North Korea had deployed its military personnel to join the Russia-Ukraine war on Moscow's side.
On November 19, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the number of North Korean troops stationed in Russia had reached 11,000 and could potentially increase to 100,000 soldiers.
On November 24, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Anatolii Barhylevych, announced that North Korean forces had already engaged in combat against Ukrainian defenders.
On November 23, Global Defense reported that a Ukrainian Storm Shadow missile strike targeted Maryino in Russia’s Kursk region, hitting a Russian underground military command post. The attack reportedly killed 500 North Korean soldiers along with Russian officers.
According to Defense Express, the site likely housed the command of Russian forces in the Kursk region and senior North Korean military officials.
Additionally, media reports indicate that on October 3, a missile strike near occupied Donetsk killed over 20 soldiers, including six North Korean officers. Three other North Korean servicemen were injured.
On October 5, RBC-Ukraine sources confirmed that the October 3 strike near Donetsk eliminated more than 20 Russian soldiers, including six North Korean military personnel. They had reportedly arrived in Donbas for experience exchange purposes.
