Ukraine strikes North Korean troops in the Russian Kursk region
The Ukrainian army has attacked North Korean soldiers stationed in the Kursk region of Russia for the first time, reported Andriy Kovalenko, a representative of the authorities in Kyiv, on Monday, as cited by the Polish Press Agency.
7:42 AM EST, November 4, 2024
According to Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Counteracting Disinformation at the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, via his Telegram channel, the first DPRK military personnel have come under fire in the Kursk region. However, he did not disclose additional details regarding this operation.
The presence of North Korean forces in Russia is causing growing concern in Kyiv. Last Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed to Western allies to address the issue of North Korean troops in Russia before they engage with Ukrainian forces. He emphasized that Ukraine has identified all the locations where these forces are stationed but has not received the long-range weaponry from allies needed to target them.
On October 31, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reported that there are about 10,000 North Korean soldiers in Russia, with 8,000 located in the Kursk region. This area is where Ukrainian forces started their offensive in August of this year.
North Korean soldiers support Russia
Reports of North Korean soldiers in Russia have been emerging since mid-October. TVP Info, citing Ukrainian intelligence, indicates that in the last week of October, Russia deployed over 7,000 North Korean soldiers to positions near Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also confirmed that the soldiers sent by Kim Jong Un have been deployed in Russia’s Kursk region. During her visit to Russia, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui assured her country would adhere to the strategic partnership agreement and support Russia in the war.
Officially, there has been no acknowledgment of the presence or participation of North Korean soldiers in military actions.
