Seoul: Some 600 North Korean soldiers have reportedly been killed while fighting for Russia against Ukraine, as revealed by South Korea's spy agency to lawmakers on Wednesday. The National Intelligence Service (NIS) provided this assessment during a closed-door briefing for the National Assembly's intelligence committee, following North Korea's confirmation of its troop deployment to support Moscow's war efforts.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the NIS informed lawmakers that around 15,000 North Korean troops have been sent to Russia, resulting in approximately 4,700 casualties, including the deaths of about 600 soldiers. This deployment has occurred in two phases, with a noted decrease in fighting since April after Russia regained control of most areas in the Kursk front-line region.
The NIS has not detected any signs of further troop deployments from North Korea but has not ruled out the possibility. Previously, in January, the agency reported that at least 300 North Korean soldiers had been killed, with 2,700 others injured. The agency noted that North Korean soldiers have acquired modern combat skills, such as drone operations, although they exhibited inexperience initially.
Many fallen soldiers were cremated in Russia, with their remains sent back to North Korea, while approximately 2,000 injured soldiers returned to the North via air and rail from January to March. These returning soldiers are reportedly being held in isolation in locations, including Pyongyang.
In exchange for troop deployment and weapon exports, North Korea is believed to have received various military equipment from Russia, including a spy satellite launchpad, drones, electronic warfare equipment, and SA-22 surface-to-air missiles. Additionally, the two nations are negotiating industrial modernization across 14 sectors, with about 15,000 North Korean laborers dispatched to Russia.
The NIS also speculated on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's possible absence from Russia's Victory Day ceremony on May 9, citing a lack of security preparations. Instead, Choe Ryong-hae or other officials might attend the 80th-anniversary ceremony of the Soviet Union's victory over Germany in the Second World War. The NIS suggested that Kim's potential visit to Russia could be rescheduled, as the two countries' relations have reached a new "turning point" following the troop deployment confirmation.