Reuters reported on December 19 that many North Korean soldiers were deployed to support Russia in the conflict with Ukraine, but they faced serious losses due to their lack of experience in drone warfare and unfamiliarity with open terrain.
This information was revealed by lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun after a closed-door meeting with the NIS. Mr. Lee said that the above casualty figures were more conservative than the estimate of a US military official, who previously said that the number of casualties was up to several hundred.
In addition, South Korean intelligence also collected signs that North Korea is preparing to send more troops to Russia, including North Korean leader Kim Jong-un directly supervising training sessions.
According to U.S. and Ukrainian officials, North Korea has not only provided manpower but also sent more than 10,000 containers of artillery shells, anti-tank missiles, self-propelled guns and rocket launchers to support Russia. However, neither North Korea nor Russia has officially acknowledged the deployment of troops or the provision of weapons.
In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea and signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" pact with leader Kim Jong-un, including a joint defense agreement.
North Korea, on the other hand, did not mention its troops’ involvement in the conflict in Ukraine or the number of casualties, instead focusing on criticizing the US and its allies. In a statement, North Korea said its military ties with Russia were “very effective” in deterring the US.
North Korea also accused the US and the West of prolonging the conflict in Ukraine, destabilizing the security situation in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The North Korean Foreign Ministry stressed that the US's "adventurism" and "hegemonic" military policies were the main causes of this situation.
