North Korean troops have reported over 5,000 casualties in the Kursk region while fighting Ukrainian forces, nearly half of their initial deployment. The British defense ministry attributes these losses to attritional assaults, noting that operations are limited and further deployment would require high-level approvals.
According to a recent intelligence update from the British defense ministry, North Korean troops have experienced over 5,000 casualties while engaging Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of Russia. This figure represents significant losses, nearly half of the original contingent of 11,000 soldiers North Korea had deployed last year to support its military efforts against Ukraine.
The British defense ministry emphasized that a considerable portion of these casualties is attributed to high-intensity, dismounted assaults. As of late last month, about one-third of the reported casualties had been confirmed as killed in action. Furthermore, the intelligence report indicates that North Korean and Russian forces have recently achieved some territorial gains in the Kursk area.
However, the ministry cautioned that North Korea’s operations have been limited to this region. Any potential order to deploy further into Ukrainian territory would necessitate authorization from both Kim Jong-un, the North’s leader, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a recent report, South Korea’s military noted that by their estimates, North Korea had incurred approximately 4,000 casualties of the initial troops sent, while also indicating a recent deployment of an additional 3,000 troops between January and February of this year.
In summary, the British defense ministry’s findings reveal that North Korean troops have sustained significant casualties in their military involvement in the Kursk region, amounting to over 5,000. This marks a critical moment in the ongoing conflict, highlighting the North’s substantial losses and the restricted nature of their military operations in collaboration with Russian forces. The future deployment of North Korean soldiers beyond Kursk relies heavily on directives from their leaders.
Original Source: en.yna.co.kr
