Conflicting Assessments of North Korean Soldiers' Combat... Despite Over 1,000 Casualties, Analyzed as "Impact on Battle Situation"

Increased Russian Strategic Flexibility After North Korean Deployment
Ukraine Begins to Lose Ground in Kursk

In June, Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, visited Pyongyang and signed a treaty with Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, centered on mutual military assistance. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News.

Amid reports that over 1,000 North Korean soldiers deployed on the main frontlines between Russia and Ukraine have been casualties, assessments of the North Korean troops' combat effectiveness are sharply divided. While the United States and Ukraine have downplayed the impact of North Korean forces on the war situation, it is reported that since the deployment of North Korean troops to the Kursk front, the tide of battle has significantly shifted in favor of Russia. As North Korean troops have begun to be deployed to dangerous frontline positions, Russia's strategic flexibility has increased, and Ukraine's war fatigue has deepened, leading to a reversal in the battle situation.

U.S. Department of Defense: "Over 1,000 North Korean Soldiers Deployed to Russia Killed or Wounded... No Signs of Additional Deployments Yet"

View near the Pentagon, the U.S. Department of Defense headquarters. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News Agency

Sabrina Singh, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Defense, stated in a recent briefing, "Approximately 1,000 casualties have occurred among North Korean troops deployed to Kursk, Russia, who are engaged in combat with Ukrainian forces," adding, "The large number of casualties proves that the North Korean attacks have not been very effective." She further explained, "There is currently no indication that more troops are being deployed," but clarified, "This does not mean that additional deployments will not occur in the future."

Earlier, the White House also revealed that among the approximately 12,000 North Korean troops deployed to Russia, around 1,000 casualties have occurred, while the Ukrainian government claimed that North Korean casualties exceed 3,000. Both the U.S. and Ukrainian sides assess that North Korean forces are deploying troops in human wave tactics without significant gains, resulting in a sharp increase in casualties.

John Kirby, White House National Security Communications Coordinator, said, "North Korean troops are launching large-scale frontal assaults against Ukrainian forces in Kursk," and added, "The human wave tactics we have observed have not been very effective and have, in fact, resulted in large-scale casualties."

There are also reports that communication between North Korean and Russian forces remains poor, preventing effective coordinated operations. According to Radio Free Asia (RFA), citing a Russian prisoner of war from the 352nd Mechanized Rifle Regiment, Alyosin Aleksei, "North Korean troops have their own command structure and arrived without interpreters, causing severe language barriers," and "There were frequent friendly fire incidents due to misunderstandings between North Korean and Russian troops, resulting in casualties, and there were also instances of threatening behavior by North Korean soldiers."

Battle Situation in Kursk Becomes Favorable to Russia After North Korean Deployment: "North Korean Troops Filling Frontline Increases Flexibility"

A Russian soldier engaged in combat with Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of Russia last September. Photo by EPA·Yonhap News

Contrary to assessments by the U.S., Western countries, and Ukraine that North Korean troops are of no help in combat, the actual situation on the Kursk front shows that since the deployment of North Korean forces, the battle has gradually tilted toward Russia, with some forecasts suggesting that Ukrainian forces may be completely pushed out of Kursk. While North Korean troops are continuously deployed and consumed at the frontline, Russian forces have gained strategic flexibility to launch offensives.

Bloomberg News, citing U.S. officials, reported, "Ukraine has lost about half of the Kursk region it previously occupied in Russia and may completely withdraw from the Kursk area within the next few months," adding, "Russia is likely to launch a full-scale offensive in the Kursk region, and if Ukrainian forces continue to hold out, there is a risk that frontline troops could be encircled and unable to retreat."

Last August, Ukrainian forces launched a surprise occupation of the Kursk region, which borders Russia, as a strategy to gain an advantageous position for ceasefire negotiations with Russia. However, the situation has drastically changed as Russia has deployed over 50,000 additional troops and all approximately 12,000 North Korean troops sent have been deployed to this front.

AP News also pointed out, "To expel Russian forces occupying various parts of Ukrainian territory, some Ukrainian troops advanced into Russia's Kursk Oblast, effectively fighting two wars, but Ukrainian forces are insufficient," and noted, "There is also a possibility that North Korea will deploy more than 8,000 additional troops in the spring, which would enable Russian forces to launch offensives on multiple fronts."