The Pentagon confirmed the losses among the North Korean military during the fighting in the Kurshchyna region of the Russian Federation

North Korean servicemen were killed in the fighting in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation after they entered battle together with Russian troops against the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the first time, Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder told reporters on December 16.

“We estimate that North Korean soldiers have engaged in combat in the Kursk region … we have evidence that they have suffered losses, both killed and wounded,” he said, but did not give an exact number of killed and wounded.

Ryder added that North Korean troops entered combat last week and were mainly used in infantry roles.

On December 14, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced the availability of data on the beginning of the use of North Korean troops in assaults against Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region. “The Russians include them in combined units and use them in operations in the districts of the Kursk region. So far, only there,” the head of state said.

On December 16, the GUR reported that “on December 14 and 15, 2024, in the areas of the villages of Plekhovo, Vorozhba, and Martynovka of the Kursk region of the aggressor state of Russia, units of the North Korean army suffered significant losses: at least 30 soldiers were killed and wounded.” Also, according to the GUR, “at least three North Korean servicemen have gone missing in the area of ​​the village of Kurilovka.”

On December 15, “Schemy” (Radio Liberty) received a photo from sources among the military in the Kursk direction. These pictures, which journalists cannot independently verify at the moment, show the results of several assaults. Several dozen bodies can be seen against the background of broken equipment.

“Schemes” sources among the military claim that among them are soldiers from North Korea who were active in joint units of the Russian army.

The editorial staff of RFE/RL is currently unable to verify this data from open sources. The Russian military command did not comment on this information.

At the end of October, Western publications reported that North Korea had sent military personnel to Russia to participate in hostilities against Ukraine. According to Ukraine and Western countries, more than 10,000 North Korean troops have arrived in the Kursk region.

In early November, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, announced that North Korean troops had suffered their first losses. Moscow and Pyongyang did not confirm the direct participation of the North Korean military in the fighting.