"'Russian Troop Deployment' North Korean Military Casualties, Up to Half of Deployed Personnel"

Seth Jones, Head of International Security at CSIS
"1,000 Fatalities... Up to 50% Casualty Rate"

An American expert has analyzed that the number of North Korean casualties deployed in Russia could amount to half of the total dispatched forces.

Yonhap News

On the 4th (local time), Seth Jones, head of the International Security Program at the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), stated in an online discussion that "the number of North Korean casualties on the Ukrainian front is estimated to be between one-third and, in the worst case, up to 50% of the total deployed personnel," adding, "the number of fatalities appears to be around 1,000."

He said, "It is difficult to make an accurate prediction," but added, "Considering that the scale of North Korean deployment is about 11,000 to 12,000 troops, the casualty figures are quite astonishing."

There were also remarks pointing out that Russia is conducting a war of attrition with numerous casualties to reclaim the Kursk region occupied by Ukraine.

Jones said, "From Vladimir Putin’s (Russian President) perspective, the political cost is not high," explaining, "Most of the conventional forces are from Siberia, Central Asia, or prisons, not the elite offspring from Moscow and other major cities."

He reported, "North Korean soldiers carry very little food and water and have almost no cold-weather gear but possess a considerable amount of ammunition," adding, "According to conversations with Ukrainian forces, the North Korean troops deployed on the battlefield are fierce fighters prepared to die, but they are not well-organized, and their cohesion with the Russian military, including the command, is clearly weak."

Regarding the end of the Ukraine war promoted by former President Donald Trump, Jones predicted, "There may be a ceasefire, but a full end to the war is unlikely," citing the differences in positions between Russia and Ukraine.

He also mentioned that there are slight rifts currently among Russia, North Korea, Iran, Hamas, and the Assad regime in Syria, emphasizing the need to pay attention to these vulnerabilities.

He said, "It is unclear why the North Korean troops withdrew from the front lines," and added, "Now everyone knows that the North Korean forces are not only fighting but also enduring extreme suffering."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.