North Korean soldiers sent to Ukraine to support the Russian invasion have reportedly been killed in combat.
The troops were promised to Vladimir Putin by the country’s president, Kim Jong-un, during a state visit to Pyongyang.
Now Ukrainian media have reported the deaths of six North Korean officers in a missile attack on the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk earlier this month.
The incident was also cited by South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who said it was “very likely” to be true. If so, it would be the first confirmation that Kim’s troops are stationed on or near the front line.
North Korean soldiers sent to Ukraine to support the Russian invasion have reportedly been killed in combat. This image, taken on October 2, shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (center, left) inspecting a Korean People’s Army special operations forces training base.
The incident was also cited by South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who said it was “very likely” to be true. If so, it would be the first confirmation that Kim’s troops are stationed on or near the front line. This photo taken on Oct. 2 shows troops participating in training at a Korean People’s Army special operations forces base.
The troops were promised to Vladimir Putin by the country’s president, Kim Jong-un, during a state visit to Pyongyang. This image shows Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchanging documents during a signing ceremony for the new partnership in Pyongyang, North Korea, June 19, 2024.
South Korea is closely monitoring the deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine.
The first group to be deployed there is believed to have been engineering specialists, who were expected to be used to strengthen defenses behind Russian lines.
Both Ukraine and Russia have foreign fighters in their ranks. Several UK volunteers have died fighting for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Russia recruits soldiers from pro-Moscow African states and international mercenaries.
North Korea has also become a major supplier of weapons and other military equipment to Russia. In exchange, it is believed that Russian scientists will contribute their experience in the production of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
South Korea is closely monitoring the deployment of North Korean troops in Ukraine. This photo taken on Sept. 11, 2024, shows soldiers training at a base for the Korean People’s Army (KPA) special operations armed forces at an undisclosed location in North Korea.
Now Ukrainian media have reported the deaths of six North Korean officers in a missile attack on the Russian-occupied city of Donetsk earlier this month. This photo taken on September 11 shows soldiers training at an undisclosed location in North Korea.
United Nations sanctions prohibit the Pyongyang regime from conducting any tests that use ballistic technology.
But Moscow used its UN Security Council veto in March to effectively end UN monitoring of the violations, for which Pyongyang has specifically thanked Russia.
Moscow and Pyongyang have been allies since the founding of North Korea after World War II and have grown even closer since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to South Korean sources, Russia also paid North Korea to send troops. They have cited an annual fee, agreed by Putin in June, of £92m.
Russian battlefield losses currently amount to a daily average of 1,200 casualties.
South Korea and North Korea remain fierce enemies and the Seoul government has threatened to increase its military support to Ukraine in a tit-for-tat response.
