South Korea's spy agency says North Korean soldiers deployed to fight on the Russian side appear to be absent from combat operations in the western region of Kursk.
The National Intelligence Service disclosed the information on Tuesday, saying North Korean troops have apparently not been engaged in battle since mid-January. The agency pointed out heavy casualties as one of the reasons.
About 11,000 North Korean personnel are believed to have been deployed with Russian forces in Kursk.
In a briefing at the National Assembly on January 13, the agency told lawmakers that it estimates the number of fatalities and injuries of North Korean troops in Russia has topped 3,000.
The South Korean military has also said it suspects Pyongyang is preparing to send more troops.
A spokesperson for Ukraine's special operations forces also told NHK on Friday that the presence of North Korean forces has not been confirmed in Kursk since about three weeks ago.
The National Intelligence Service disclosed the information on Tuesday, saying North Korean troops have apparently not been engaged in battle since mid-January. The agency pointed out heavy casualties as one of the reasons.
About 11,000 North Korean personnel are believed to have been deployed with Russian forces in Kursk.
In a briefing at the National Assembly on January 13, the agency told lawmakers that it estimates the number of fatalities and injuries of North Korean troops in Russia has topped 3,000.
The South Korean military has also said it suspects Pyongyang is preparing to send more troops.
A spokesperson for Ukraine's special operations forces also told NHK on Friday that the presence of North Korean forces has not been confirmed in Kursk since about three weeks ago.
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Summary
11,000 North Korean troops deployed with Russian forces in the western region of Kursk may not be actively participating in combat since mid-January, according to South Korea's National Intelligence Service. The agency attributes this absence to heavy casualties, estimated at over 3,000 fatalities
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ID: 394fb5d5-b5df-4e32-9ddd-3e12a052d232
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250204_23/
Date: Feb. 4, 2025
Created: 2025/02/05 07:00
Updated: 2025/12/08 06:32
Last Read: 2025/02/05 10:56