Ukraine Defense Intelligence Agency intercepts communications of North Korean troops 'supported by Russia'
National Intelligence Service is identifying casualties among North Korean troops
The Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) disclosed on the 26th (local time) that it intercepted North Korean military radio communications in the Kursk region of Russia.
A Ukrainian military truck is passing by a destroyed house in a city in Donetsk Province. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
The audio file posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the Defense Intelligence on the same day contains voices instructing a comrade to come out in Korean.
The Defense Intelligence stated, "We intercepted new conversations of North Korean troops deployed in the Kursk region of Russia," adding, "The North Korean military sent messages to other soldiers via radio."
According to the file, one man says, "I'm getting on the boat, coming out and heading to the front," to which another man replies, "Come out quickly." The first man responds, "Understood."
The Defense Intelligence did not disclose the date when this conversation was intercepted.
According to Ukrainian and U.S. authorities, approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers have been dispatched to support Russian forces, and they are located in Kursk.
Local Ukrainian media reported on the 24th that some of these North Korean troops participated in the war and engaged in combat with Ukrainian forces.
The National Intelligence Service also confirmed on the 20th that North Korean troops are part of local airborne brigades and marine units, with some participating in combat. The agency is also investigating reports of casualties among the deployed North Korean soldiers.
The U.S. military industry media outlet Global Defense Corporation reported on the 20th that 500 North Korean soldiers stationed in Kursk were killed by Ukraine's Storm Shadow cruise missile attack. However, no related information, sources, or evidence were provided, and the U.S. Department of Defense stated it could not verify this report.
The Ukrainian military is at a numerical disadvantage due to the deployment of North Korean troops, and the war situation is turning favorable to Russia. According to a Russian independent investigative media outlet, Russian forces are advancing at the fastest pace since the conflict began in February 2022. The report states that Russian forces occupied about 235 square kilometers in Ukraine last week, the highest weekly record this year.
The Russian military has occupied 600 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory this month. As Russia expands its territory, it is intensifying airstrikes on key Ukrainian infrastructure.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that it shot down 76 out of 188 drones launched by Russia overnight. The rest disappeared from radar or were brought down by electronic jamming.
In a statement, the Ukrainian Air Force explained, "The drone attacks damaged key infrastructure facilities in several regions, and apartments and other buildings were affected."
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