Approximately 600 North Korean soldiers have been killed and thousands more injured while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, a South Korean lawmaker revealed Wednesday. The disclosure comes just days after Pyongyang officially confirmed it had sent troops to support Moscow in the ongoing conflict.
Citing a briefing by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), MP Lee Seong-kweun, a member of the National Assembly’s intelligence committee, stated that North Korean casualties are estimated at around 4,700, including about 600 fatalities.
North Korea acknowledged on Monday that it had deployed troops to aid Russian efforts, with state media outlet KCNA claiming its forces had helped retake territory in Ukraine’s border region near Kursk.
This week, Russia also confirmed North Korea’s involvement, ending months of official silence. For nearly a year, both Seoul and Washington have accused Pyongyang of gradually escalating its military support for Moscow, including providing weapons and personnel.
According to Lee, around 2,000 North Korean soldiers have already been repatriated in 2025 and are currently in quarantine, including in Pyongyang. The remains of those killed were reportedly cremated in Kursk before being returned to the North.
Lee said North Korea deployed around 18,000 troops to the Kursk area in two phases, although fighting in the region has decreased since March. He also cited reports of disciplinary issues among North Korean forces, such as excessive drinking and theft.
Improved Combat Proficiency
Despite early difficulties, the NIS believes North Korean troops have become more effective in combat. “Their battlefield capabilities have significantly improved,” Lee noted, pointing to increased familiarity with modern weapons systems, including drones.
The troops are believed to be from North Korea’s elite Storm Corps and have allegedly been instructed to avoid capture at all costs — even if it means committing suicide, based on previous intelligence assessments.
South Korea has strongly condemned Pyongyang’s deployment and accused it of sending container shipments of arms, including missiles, to Russia. In return, North Korea is believed to be receiving significant military and technical support from Moscow.
When asked whether further deployments could be expected, Lee responded that such a possibility “cannot be entirely ruled out.”
Military ties between North Korea and Russia have grown closer since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in 2022, prompting concern in Seoul, Washington, and among allied nations.
