Additional Coverage:
- North Korean soldier captured by Ukraine as it says Russia is trying to hide Pyongyang’s losses (newsbreak.com)
North Korean Soldier Captured and Killed in Ukraine
Ukrainian forces have captured and killed a North Korean soldier, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS). The soldier was injured during fighting in Russia’s Kursk region.
Zelenskyy Accuses Russia of Hiding Losses
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of trying to conceal losses of North Korean troops fighting in Ukraine. He claims that Russia is “burning the faces” of dead North Korean soldiers to hide their identities.
North Korean Troop Deployment
Pyongyang began sending troops to Russia in October, and up to 11,000 are believed to have arrived in Kursk. The elite “Storm” Corps has been involved in the fighting and has reportedly suffered heavy casualties.
NIS Assessment
The NIS estimates that over 100 “Storm” troops have been killed and 1,000 injured in Russia. The agency believes the troops are ill-prepared for drone attacks and the local terrain.
Casualty Estimates
Zelenskyy estimates that over 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in the Kursk region. The NIS has confirmed the death of at least one captured soldier.