South Korean intelligence officials revealed that approximately 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and 4,700 wounded while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine's Kursk region, according to a briefing by the National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Lee Seong-kweun, a member of South Korea's parliamentary intelligence committee, stated that North Korea deployed around 18,000 troops in two phases to support Russia's military operations in Kursk. The bodies of fallen North Korean soldiers were reportedly cremated locally before being transported back to North Korea.
According to the NIS, about 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been withdrawn this year and are currently being held in isolation facilities across North Korea, including in Pyongyang.
While combat intensity in the Kursk region has decreased since March, South Korean officials noted that North Korean forces have shown improved combat capabilities, particularly in operating modern weapons systems and drones. However, reports have emerged of disciplinary issues among North Korean troops, including incidents of excessive drinking and theft.
In exchange for military support, North Korea has reportedly received technical assistance from Russia, including reconnaissance satellite systems, drones, electronic warfare equipment, and surface-to-air missiles. The two nations have strengthened their military cooperation since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, culminating in a comprehensive military agreement signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea.
South Korean officials have not ruled out the possibility of additional North Korean troop deployments to Russia, though no immediate signs of such movements have been detected.