Nearly half of the North Korean troops deployed to the war in Ukraine have been killed or wounded, according to recent assessments.
Citing a Mar. 28 intelligence update from the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence, The National Interest reported on Apr. 1 that North Korea has suffered over 5,000 casualties as of March due to offensive operations in Russia’s Kursk region. Roughly one-third of those casualties are believed to be fatalities.
The toll accounts for nearly half of the approximately 11,000 North Korean troops estimated to have been deployed to the area between October and November last year.
The U.K. Ministry of Defence attributed the heavy losses to North Korean units engaging in large-scale, attritional infantry assaults. While North Korean troops are regarded as highly trained, The National Interest noted they were evidently ill-equipped for modern warfare dominated by drone-based surveillance and precision strikes.
Despite the scale of casualties, the report noted that North Korea’s involvement aided Russian forces in recapturing significant territory in the Kursk region through counteroffensive operations.
At present, North Korean military activity appears confined to the Kursk area. The U.K. Ministry of Defence assessed that any movement beyond that zone into territory internationally recognized as Ukrainian would likely require direct authorization from both Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Given the potential geopolitical consequences, such a decision would likely involve extensive strategic calculation by both governments.
The National Interest further reported that North Korea’s deployment in Kursk previously triggered the United States, the United Kingdom, and France to authorize the use of long-range missiles in response. The report warned that any escalation by North Korean forces could prompt a similar reaction from Western allies.
Separately, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff stated on Mar. 27 that approximately 4,000 casualties had been confirmed among the 11,000 North Korean troops sent to Russia. An additional 3,000 soldiers were reportedly deployed between January and February as reinforcements.
Beyond personnel, North Korea has continued supplying Russia with military equipment. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Pyongyang has provided a considerable number of short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), as well as around 220 units of 170mm self-propelled artillery and 240mm multiple rocket launchers. Officials indicated that further deliveries may follow depending on the evolving situation on the battlefield.
