Ukrainian soldiers fire a Soviet S-60 anti-aircraft gun toward Russian positions in Bahkmut. Photo, Virginie Nguyen Hoang..
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed the first official casualties among North Korean soldiers fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
In an interview with Japanese media outlet Kyodo News, Zelensky revealed that the casualties were stationed in western Russia, where intense fighting has erupted following Kyiv’s unexpected incursion into the Kursk region in August.
No specific figure was disclosed regarding the number of North Korean military deaths.
Zelensky said that approximately 12,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to fight on Moscow’s side, but he emphasized that Kyiv is still gathering evidence before releasing an official count.
He also predicts that the number of foreign troops supporting Russia will continue to increase as the war enters a “difficult period.”
Reports about North Korean military casualties in Ukraine first emerged in October when South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun told lawmakers that six North Korean officers were killed in a Ukrainian missile attack near Donetsk.
North Korea’s direct participation in the war was revealed as early as July, following the signing of a mutual defense treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow.
The treaty obliges both nations to help each other if either is attacked.
In the context of the Ukraine conflict, it appears that Russia stands to gain more from the alliance, as North Korean troops are reportedly being used as “cannon fodder” only.
“Cannon fodder” refers to soldiers deemed expendable, often sent into high-risk combat situations where they are expected to suffer heavy casualties.
South Korean Defense Minister Kim has previously noted that North Korean troops are deployed in some of the most dangerous frontline areas, relieving Russian forces with direct exposure to intense fighting.
Despite this, reports indicate that Pyongyang’s soldiers receive only a few weeks of training to familiarize themselves with the Ukrainian terrain and tactics.
