North Korean troops withdraw from Russia’s front lines amid heavy casualties South Korean intelligence data

North Korean troops deployed to support Russia’s war against Ukraine have been absent from combat in the front-line Kursk region since mid-January, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The NIS confirmed a recent report by The New York Times, which cited Ukrainian and U.S. officials stating that North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces were withdrawn from the front lines due to significant casualties, Caliber.Az reports via South Korean media.

“Since mid-January, there have been no signs showing North Korean troops deployed to the Russian Kursk region engaging in battle,” the NIS reported on February 4.

The agency suggested that heavy losses may be a key factor in the withdrawal but added that efforts are underway to determine the exact reasons behind the troop movements.

North Korea is believed to have sent approximately 11,000 troops to aid Russia in its war against Ukraine. Among them, an estimated 300 have been killed, while around 2,700 others have sustained injuries, the NIS informed South Korean lawmakers.

By Vugar Khalilov