About 600 North Korean soldiers have lost their lives while fighting in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to South Korean lawmakers who cited intelligence reports. This information came to light during a closed briefing by the National Intelligence Service (NIS), where officials revealed that around 4,700 North Koreans have been either killed or injured since the war began.
Lee Seong-kweun and Kim Byung-kee, who co-chair the intelligence committee in the South Korean legislature, shared these details with reporters. Their comments followed North Korea’s recent confirmation that it has deployed troops to support Russia in its military efforts against Ukraine. This was the first time Pyongyang officially acknowledged sending soldiers to the conflict.
In a statement reported by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed his intent to deploy troops to "annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers" and assist Russian forces in the Kursk region. This marks a notable escalation in North Korea’s involvement in the war.
The casualty figures have significantly increased since January, when the NIS estimated that approximately 300 North Korean troops had died in the conflict. The lawmakers noted that North Korea has sent about 15,000 soldiers to Ukraine in total.
In addition to troop deployments, it appears that North Korea has received military assistance in return. This includes technical support for spy satellites, drones, electronic warfare equipment, and SA-22 surface-to-air missiles. Lee mentioned that after six months of fighting, the North Korean military has shown improvement in its combat skills and is becoming more adept at using new technology, such as drones.
As the situation evolves, the implications of North Korea’s involvement in the war remain significant, both for the region and for global security dynamics.