Media: North Korean troops withdrawn from Kursk front line after heavy losses

North Korean troops have been pulled back from the front line in the Kursk region after suffering significant losses while fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine.

According to reports from Ukrainian and US officials, as detailed by The New York Times, the withdrawal follows nearly two weeks of no sightings of DPRK soldiers on the frontline, per Caliber.Az.

Sources familiar with the situation indicated that North Korea had sent approximately 11,000 troops to Russia, but as Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi previously noted, half of those forces were lost over the course of three months of fighting.

While Ukrainian forces described the North Korean soldiers as fierce fighters, they also pointed out that a lack of organisation and coordination with Russian troops contributed to their heavy casualties. The DPRK forces, advancing with few armoured vehicles, rarely took time to regroup or retreat, which led to additional losses.

US officials mentioned that the withdrawal of North Korean troops from the front line may not be permanent. They suggested that North Korean forces could potentially be redeployed to the battlefield after undergoing further training or if the Russians can develop new strategies to minimize casualties among them.

The Ukrainian Defense Forces began their operation in the Kursk region in early August 2024, successfully capturing around a hundred settlements. However, some of the territory was lost during the fighting, and combat continues in the region. Ukrainian commanders explained that the Kursk operation was a preventive measure to stop a Russian advance in northern Ukraine.

In the fall, Russian forces brought in North Korean troops to support the fight in Kursk. Ukrainian defenders were able to capture some DPRK soldiers, who were transported to Kyiv for investigation.

By Tamilla Hasanova