Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Friday that “several” injured North Korean soldiers, captured by Ukrainian forces, had died due to severe injuries sustained in combat. He criticized Russia for deploying these troops with “minimal protection,” calling their involvement in the war evidence of Russia’s growing desperation.
Ukraine and its Western allies have alleged that North Korea dispatched thousands of soldiers to support Russia’s military efforts. Zelenskyy highlighted the harsh conditions these troops faced, saying, “Our soldiers managed to take them prisoner, but they were very seriously wounded and could not be resuscitated.”
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed that a captured North Korean soldier had succumbed to injuries while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. The agency previously estimated that over 1,000 North Korean troops had been killed, citing their lack of preparedness for modern battlefield conditions, including drone warfare.
Zelenskyy revealed that approximately 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been “killed or wounded” in the conflict, particularly in the Kursk border region, a hotspot for recent clashes. U.S. officials corroborated these figures, describing North Korean troops as being sent on futile missions by Russian commanders who see them as expendable. Some reports suggest that North Korean soldiers, fearing reprisals against their families back home, have chosen suicide over the risk of capture.
Escalating Military Ties Between North Korea and Russia
The increasing presence of North Korean forces in Ukraine comes amid deepening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. In June, a significant defense agreement was signed between the two nations, which North Korean media hailed as a “breakthrough.” Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a New Year’s message to Kim Jong Un, emphasizing the strengthened bilateral relationship following their talks.
South Korea’s military believes North Korea is leveraging the conflict to modernize its conventional warfare capabilities. NATO officials have accused Russia of bolstering Pyongyang’s missile and nuclear programs in exchange for troop deployments. Evidence of North Korea supplying Russia with heavy artillery systems, such as 240mm rocket launchers and 170mm self-propelled guns, has also emerged.
Regional Concerns and Policy Shifts
Pyongyang’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war has drawn sharp warnings from Seoul. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, prior to his suspension, suggested the possibility of providing arms to Ukraine—a significant departure from South Korea’s policy against supplying weapons to countries engaged in active conflict.
With reports indicating North Korea’s potential rotation or additional deployment of troops to Ukraine, the conflict has exposed new dimensions of the geopolitical rivalry between the West, Russia, and its allies. The involvement of North Korean forces underscores the complex web of alliances and the escalating stakes of the war in Ukraine.
