Ukraine claims that approximately 30 North Korean troops have been killed or injured while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk border region. Ukrainian military intelligence and the Pentagon both support these claims, with the former stating that North Korean units have faced significant losses in specific villages within Kursk.
The US Pentagon spokesperson, Major-General Pat Ryder, confirmed the indications of North Korean casualties. Despite these claims, neither Russia nor North Korea has officially commented. Reports estimate around 11,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia, mainly to the Kursk region, which has seen increased activity since a surprise Ukrainian incursion.
Both North Korean and Russian authorities have not acknowledged this deployment, although the two countries have recently strengthened military ties. A mutual defence treaty signed in June obliges both nations to provide military assistance if either faces aggression.