600 North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine: Seoul
Around 600 North Korean soldiers deployed to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine have been killed and thousands more injured, a South Korean lawmaker said on Wednesday, days after Pyongyang officially acknowledged sending troops to assist Moscow in the war.
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Citing a briefing from South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), MP Lee Seong-kweun, a member of the parliamentary intelligence committee, said, "So far,
North Korean troop casualties
are estimated at around 4,700, including approximately 600 deaths."
The announcement follows North Korea's confirmation on Monday that it had dispatched troops to aid Russian operations, with state-run KCNA claiming its soldiers helped Moscow recapture Ukrainian-held areas in the border region of Kursk.
Russia also acknowledged North Korea's involvement this week, breaking months of silence. For nearly a year, Seoul and Washington have accused Pyongyang of steadily ramping up military assistance to Russia, including the transfer of weapons and troops.
According to Lee, approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been repatriated this year and are now under isolation in locations including the capital, Pyongyang.
The remains of the dead were reportedly cremated in Kursk before being sent back.
North Korea is believed to have deployed 18,000 troops to the Kursk region in two phases, Lee added. However, he noted that hostilities in the area have lessened since March. "There have been reports of misconduct within North Korean forces, including excessive drinking and theft," he said.
Combat capability on the rise
Despite initial setbacks, the NIS believes North Korean troops have grown more adept on the battlefield.
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"Their combat capability has significantly improved," Lee said, citing enhanced proficiency with modern weapon systems, including drones.
The forces deployed are reportedly from North Korea's elite Storm Corps, who have been instructed to avoid capture at all costs — even if that means taking their own lives, according to prior statements from South Korean intelligence.
Seoul has condemned the deployment and accused Pyongyang of dispatching container-loads of weapons — including missiles — to support Russia's war efforts.
In return, the North is said to be receiving substantial technical and military assistance from Moscow.
Asked whether additional deployments might be on the horizon, Lee said the possibility could not be "entirely ruled out."
North Korea and Russia have increasingly strengthened military cooperation since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, raising alarm in Seoul, Washington, and allied capitals.
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