North Korean troops face extinction in Ukraine by April
According to the Institute for the Study of War, North Korean troops in Ukraine may cease to exist by mid-April, with losses reaching nearly 100 soldiers per day.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that North Korean troops in Ukraine may cease to exist by mid-April. There are currently around 12,000 North Korean soldiers stationed in the Kursk region, losing nearly 100 personnel daily. Many of them are severely wounded, casting doubt on their ability to return to the front.
Increasing losses on the front
At the beginning of January, Volodymyr Zelensky reported that 3,800 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded on the Russian-Ukrainian front. Two months earlier, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov mentioned their involvement in "small skirmishes" in the Kursk region. However, since December, these forces have been participating in more serious combat operations, resulting in losses of about 90 soldiers per day.
The South Korean army, which is monitoring its neighbor's actions, provides different numbers. "South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) stated on January 13 that so far 300 North Koreans have been killed in action and 2,700 have been wounded in action in Kursk Oblast," ISW reported. Analysts emphasize that the forces supporting Russia are becoming increasingly weak, with most soldiers requiring lengthy recovery.
The future of North Korean forces
It is unclear whether the injured North Koreans will return to the front. Experts from ISW predict that if the current rate of losses continues, the entire North Korean contingent may cease to exist by mid-April. This situation could affect the further course of the conflict in Ukraine.
Kim Jong Un's soldiers captured in Ukraine
North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russia and were captured by Ukrainian forces have reportedly confirmed during interrogations that they have no knowledge of Ukraine and are being used by Moscow solely to prolong the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Tuesday.
Two North Korean soldiers were captured in the Kursk region of Russia, partially occupied by Ukrainian forces. Wounded during combat, they were transported to Kyiv, as reported by Zelensky on January 11. They are currently being interrogated by Ukrainian services.
"The prisoners do not speak Ukrainian, English or Russian, so communication with them takes place through Korean translators in cooperation with South Korean intelligence. We are establishing the facts and checking all the details. The world will learn the whole truth about how Russia uses these individuals, who grew up in complete informational isolation, know nothing about Ukraine, and are used by Russia solely to continue and expand this war," the Ukrainian president announced on social media.
