North Korean soldiers killed in clashes with Ukrainians

According to "The New York Times," the clashes occurred in the Kursk region of Russia, where Ukrainian forces have been conducting operations since August. An anonymous Ukrainian official stated that the skirmish was limited and aimed at identifying weak points in the defense lines. The North Koreans were part of the 810th Independent Guards Marine Brigade.

An American official quoted by the newspaper mentioned that a "significant" number of North Korean soldiers were killed. However, details regarding the number of casualties or the exact time and place of the clash were not disclosed.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed the first skirmishes with North Korean soldiers in an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS. He described them as "small-scale" skirmishes but declined to provide further details.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in his Tuesday speech that "the first battles with North Korean soldiers open a new chapter of instability in the world." However, he did not provide further details about these events.

As reported by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the end of October, there are 10,000 North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia, with 8,000 in the Kursk region. On Monday, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported that this number had increased to 11,000.

Zelensky has repeatedly called on the international community to respond to the presence of North Korean soldiers alongside the Russian army. The Ukrainian leader added that his services provided data on all locations where North Korean soldiers are stationed. Zelensky emphasized that Western allies have not supplied Ukraine with long-range weapons that would allow for attacks on North Korean forces.