North Korean troops retreat from Russian front after heavy losses
South Korea's Intelligence Service (NIS) reported on Tuesday that since mid-January, there have been no North Korean soldiers on the front line in the Kursk region in western Russia. Recently, the Ukrainian army announced the withdrawal of these troops due to "heavy personnel losses."
"Since mid-January," the intelligence from Seoul reported, "there have been no signs showing North Korean troops deployed to the Russian Kursk region engaging in battle." One reason for their absence is the severe losses they suffered.
The spokesman for Ukrainian Special Operations, Colonel Oleksandr Kindratenko, confirmed last week the lack of activity from North Korean troops in the region. His statement was the first official confirmation of earlier media reports suggesting the withdrawal of troops due to significant losses.
According to data from mid-January, North Korean forces may have lost about 4,000 soldiers in the battles.
The fighting in Kursk continues
Sources from The New York Times do not rule out the possibility that North Korean soldiers might return to the front after additional training. The Russians may also develop new strategies for troop deployment to minimize losses.
Hostile attacks in the Kursk region continue, but the Russian occupiers are using significantly less equipment. This may indicate difficulties in resource allocation or a change in enemy tactics, reported the Ukrainian agency UNIAN.
North Korean soldiers in Russia
Ukrainian troops entered the Kursk region on August 6, 2024. Their goal was to force Russia to redirect some forces from the Donbas in eastern Ukraine as part of a broader military strategy by Ukraine.
According to authorities in Seoul, Kim Jong Un sent over 10,000 soldiers to Russia in exchange for technical assistance in weapons and satellite programs. This cooperation results from stringent sanctions imposed on Pyongyang.
