Korean Intelligence Agency “Concrete Intelligence on North Korean Military Casualties”
Ukraine Strikes Kursk…Area with North Korean Troops
North Korea Seeking Russian Support Using Soldiers’ Sacrifice
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) is verifying intelligence reports that North Korean soldiers, deployed in the Ukraine war, have incurred casualties. Given that blood has been shed on the battlefield, concerns rise over what kind of technological or support benefits North Korea will attempt to extract from Russia in return. As North Korea has not officially recognized this troop deployment, they might internally attempt to suppress the news of casualties.
On the 25th, the state intelligence agency announced it is closely monitoring specific intelligence indicating casualties among North Korean troops deployed in the Ukraine war. Recently, several claims from Western officials and the Ukrainian government, quoted by foreign media, mentioned North Korean casualties, which is the first time our intelligence has verified these claims.
A government official told Asia Economy in a phone conversation that since the signing of the Russia-North Korea treaty in June of this year, both sides have seemingly declared they would bleed for each other. It was noted that Russia is already compensating North Korea for the deployment with military support and economic benefits, including food and energy, and that this cooperation is likely to continue. However, he pointed out that North Korean troops alone cannot sufficiently resolve Russia’s manpower shortage.
On the 23rd, Global Defense Corporation, a U.S. military media outlet, reported that about 500 North Korean soldiers were killed when Ukraine attacked the Kursk region with Storm Shadow cruise missiles. The Wall Street Journal also reported that a high-ranking North Korean general was injured in the Kursk airstrike.
Ukraine, on the 20th, used up to 12 Storm Shadow missiles to target a suspected military command headquarters near the village of Marino, close to Kursk. This facility was reportedly used by both North Korean and Russian officers, and more than 10,000 North Korean soldiers are believed to be stationed in the Kursk region alone.
Previously, the NIS reported at a full meeting of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee that around 11,000 North Korean soldiers had completed local adaptation training in northeastern Russia and were deployed to Kursk towards the end of October. They were attached to units like Russia’s airborne brigades and marines, receiving tactics and drone response training, with some participating in combat. This point shows progress to the stage where ‘specific intelligence exists,’ although there are conflicting reports on casualties.
Casualties are expected to continue rising. Since North Korea is not officially acknowledging the deployment and is disguising their soldiers within the Russian army, appropriate measures for casualties may not be taken. Reports suggest that there is unrest among families whose children have been deployed, but given the difficulty in contacting family members during military service, there is a possibility that families are unaware of the deployment. North Korea is likely to compensate for such service and casualties with titles and medals.
As the Russia-Ukraine war gradually escalates, Russia is reacting sensitively to the possibility of South Korea supplying weapons. On the 24th, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, in an interview with TASS, stated that if South Korean weapons are used to kill Russian citizens, bilateral relations could be completely destroyed and that they will respond with all necessary measures.
As participation of North Korean troops in combat, once considered a ‘red line’ by the government, becomes a given, there are expectations for changes in the support direction for Ukraine. While considering the emergence of a new U.S. administration in January next year, the principle remains to gradually adjust the support method according to the degree of North Korean involvement. Options like indirect support of lethal weapons or 155mm ammunition are not being ruled out.
Meanwhile, according to the NIS, North Korea, which has been supplying conventional weapons such as shells to Russian battlefields, has also reportedly exported long-range artillery such as 170mm self-propelled guns and 240mm multiple rocket launchers.