Ukraine estimates that more than 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured in Russia’s Kursk region, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
North Korean soldiers are believed to have suffered heavy losses in the region, according to US and Ukrainian officials. Zelensky’s government accuses Russia of trying to cover up the Asian country’s involvement in the war.
Neither Russia nor North Korea have officially acknowledged the presence of North Korean soldiers in the battle.
Previously, a US official said North Korea had “several hundred” casualties, including dead and injured, in Kursk since October.
Additionally, a South Korean congressman noted earlier this month that around 100 North Korean soldiers are believed to have been killed and nearly a thousand injured since being deployed to Kursk, according to the country’s intelligence agency.
“Russia simply gets rid of them through attacks,” Zelensky claimed in a video speech on Monday night.
In another post on X, the president warned about the risks of greater Pyongyang support for Moscow.
“There is a risk that North Korea will send additional troops and military equipment to the Russian Army, and we will have tangible responses to that,” he added.
Understand the war between Russia and Ukraine
Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and entered the territory from three fronts: through the Russian border, through Crimea and through Belarus, a country that is a strong ally of the Kremlin.
Forces loyal to President Vladimir Putin made significant advances in the first few days, but the Ukrainians managed to maintain control of Kiev, even though the city was also attacked. The invasion was criticized internationally and the Kremlin was the target of Western economic sanctions.
In October 2024, after thousands of deaths, the war in Ukraine entered what analysts describe as its most dangerous moment yet.
Tensions rose when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the use of an intermediate-range hypersonic missile during an attack on Ukrainian soil. The projectile carried conventional warheads, but is capable of carrying nuclear material.
The launch took place after Ukraine launched an offensive inside Russian territory using weapons manufactured by Western powers, such as the United States, the United Kingdom and France.
Western intelligence reports that Russia is using North Korean troops in the conflict in Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang neither deny nor confirm the report.
President Vladimir Putin, who replaced his defense minister in May, has said that Russian forces are advancing much more effectively — and that Russia will achieve all of its objectives in Ukraine, although he did not elaborate.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes Putin’s main goals are to occupy the entire Donbass region, encompassing the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and to expel Ukrainian troops from Russia’s Kursk region, which they have controlled parts of since August.
This content was originally published in Zelensky: More than 3,000 North Korean soldiers died or were injured on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
