Over 100 North Korean Soldiers Reportedly Killed in Ukraine Conflict, According to South Korea's Intelligence Agency
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Seoul, Dec 19 (NationPress) Over 100 North Korean soldiers sent to Russia to engage in combat in Ukraine have been killed, with estimates of injured North Korean troops reaching approximately 1,000, according to South Korea's intelligence agency shared with lawmakers on Thursday.
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) provided this evaluation during a confidential briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee, as reported by Rep. Lee Seong-kweun from the ruling People Power Party.
Among the estimated 11,000 North Korean soldiers stationed in the Kursk border area, some have been deployed into direct combat, the NIS indicated.
"At least 100 individuals have lost their lives in this process, and the number of injured is likely to approach 1,000," the agency stated, mentioning that high-ranking officers were likely part of the casualties, as reported by Yonhap news agency.
The NIS attributed the significant casualty figures to the fact that North Korean forces are being 'utilized' as front-line troops in 'unfamiliar battlefields', suffering from a lack of experience with drones.
Russian military officials have expressed that the North Korean soldiers are a 'liability' due to their 'lack of knowledge' about drone operations, it was added.
The agency also reported that signs indicate that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is preparing to assess the training of a special operations unit that could be sent to Ukraine.
"No indicators of immediate provocations" from North Korea towards the South have been observed following President Yoon Suk Yeol's unsuccessful attempt at martial law and impeachment, it was stated.
The agency further highlighted that North Korea is maintaining a 'subdued' approach to the rapidly evolving situation in the South concerning Yoon's impeachment.
North Korean troops have reportedly experienced 'several hundred casualties' during confrontations with Ukrainian forces in the Kursk area, as reported by Reuters on Tuesday (U.S. time), citing a U.S. military official.
Previously, on December 16, an estimation indicated that around 200 Russian and North Korean soldiers were killed while engaged in combined operations against Ukrainian forces, as reported by Kyiv's intelligence authorities, without detailing the casualties for each side.
