Over 1,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed on Monday.
This comes after Seoul’s intelligence agency informed lawmakers last week that at least 100 North Korean soldiers had died since joining the conflict in December.
“Using various sources of information, we estimate that approximately 1,100 North Korean troops have suffered casualties in battles against Ukrainian forces,” the South Korean military said in a statement. It also highlighted concerns about Pyongyang preparing for additional deployments to bolster Russia’s war effort.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff further reported that North Korea has been supplying Russia with military equipment, including drones, rocket launchers, and self-propelled artillery. They warned that Pyongyang is using its involvement to enhance its conventional warfare capabilities, which could heighten its military threat to South Korea.
A report from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service also suggested that Russia may offer North Korea military upgrades in exchange for its support, including modernizing its outdated weaponry.
Western officials have similarly noted North Korea’s active role in reinforcing Russian forces, with troops reportedly stationed in regions like Kursk, where Ukrainian forces made gains earlier this year.
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