In a recent display of military solidarity, North Korean soldiers who fought alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region marched under the Russian flag. This event has drawn attention from Ukrainian officials, who highlighted the significant loss of life among North Korean troops during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Heorhii Tykhyi, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pointed out that while the soldiers may appear proud, their participation is overshadowed by the deaths of at least 6,000 North Korean soldiers who did not return from the battlefield. “They may seem proud, yet there is nothing to be proud of. What is missing from this propaganda charade are at least 6,000 North Korean soldiers who did not march in Pyongyang that day. They perished in an illegal war of aggression thousands of kilometers away,” he stated.
“They may appear proud, yet there is nothing to be proud of. What is missing from this propaganda charade are at least 6,000 North Korean soldiers who did not march in Pyongyang that day. They perished in an illegal war of aggression eight thousand kilometers away.”
Tykhyi emphasized the need for global awareness regarding North Korea’s involvement in the conflict, asserting that Kim Jong-un does not send his troops into battle without expecting something in return. He suggested that the North Korean leader is receiving critical support from Russian President Vladimir Putin in exchange for military assistance.
The spokesperson also expressed concerns about the implications of this alliance for security in the Indo-Pacific region. “We believe this should concern every country in the Indo-Pacific region, and we reaffirm Ukraine’s readiness to collaborate closely to address common security threats arising from the deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang,” Tykhyi added.
Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, North Korea has been supplying Russia with ammunition, equipment, and weaponry. Reports indicate that North Korean soldiers have been involved in coordinating reconnaissance operations and assisting Russian forces in conducting strikes against Ukrainian territory.
Intelligence assessments reveal that North Korean troops in the Kursk region are also operating drones and directing attacks on Ukrainian positions in the Sumy region. British intelligence has noted that North Korea has suffered approximately 6,000 military casualties in the conflict, which accounts for more than half of the estimated 11,000 troops deployed to the area.
Furthermore, any decisions regarding the deployment of North Korean forces into Ukraine are believed to require coordination between Putin and Kim Jong-un, underscoring the strategic partnership between the two nations amid the ongoing conflict.
North Korean soldiers recently marched under the Russian flag, drawing attention to the significant casualties their forces have suffered in the Ukraine conflict. Ukrainian officials emphasize the need for global awareness of North Korea's military involvement and its implications for regional security.