North Korean troops, sent to support Russian forces in Ukraine, have been withdrawn following significant casualties, according to South Korean military officials. The soldiers, who were unprepared for the realities of warfare in Ukraine's challenging terrain, faced particular vulnerability to Ukrainian drones. Their presence had initially sparked fears that the war could escalate dangerously for Ukraine. However, intelligence reports confirm their removal from the frontline in mid-January.
The National Intelligence Service in Seoul reported that North Korean soldiers had not been seen in battle for several weeks. These troops had been deployed to the Russian Kursk region in late 2024, with an estimated 11,000 soldiers involved. However, intelligence officials in South Korea have estimated that around 300 North Koreans were killed and approximately 2,700 were wounded. This high casualty rate played a crucial role in the decision to withdraw them from the conflict zone.
Seth Jones of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington highlighted the severity of the situation:
"The casualty rates were significant," "By most accounts we were able to take a look at somewhere between a third and probably on the real high end, maybe 50% casualties among the North Korean forces."
In January, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared a video clip showing two captured North Korean soldiers. One soldier revealed that his commanders had informed him of participating in a "training exercise." Disturbingly, notes found on deceased North Korean soldiers suggested that their regime had instructed them to commit suicide rather than be captured.
Despite these developments, South Korean military officials have expressed concerns that Pyongyang may be preparing to send additional troops to Ukraine. Intelligence indicates that North Korea aims to gain access to advanced Russian satellite technology and earn foreign currency to support its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.