North Korean soldiers encountered a drone far from home with fatal consequences… deployed to the front lines day after day.

North Korean-Russian Joint Combat Unit Continues Intense Offensive on the Frontlines of Kursk
U.S. Officials Estimate ‘Hundreds of Casualties’…Ukraine Says ‘North Korean Forces Used in Russian Offensives for Three Days’ ,
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North Korean soldiers under drone attack in Ukraine
(Seoul=Yonhap News) An image showing North Korean soldiers being targeted by a drone attack was released by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces on December 17th, 2024. [Screen capture from Ukrainian Special Operations Forces’ Facebook. No resale or redistribution permitted] 2024.12.18.,
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, ‘(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Hwasup Lim = As Russian forces deploy North Korean military units to the frontline ground battles, casualties among North Korean soldiers are increasing rapidly.’,
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, “Inexperienced North Korean soldiers are confronted with ‘unfamiliar’ weapons such as lethal drones and cluster munitions in a foreign land, leading to situations where they are helplessly killed or severely injured. These instances are being revealed through videos and photographs.”,
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, ‘According to announcements by the Ukrainian government and military on the 17th, Russian forces have focused on deploying North Korean military units to the frontlines in the Kursk region for three consecutive days.’,
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, ‘The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces reported killing 50 and injuring 47 North Korean soldiers between the 14th and 16th.’,
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, ‘When considering battles with other Ukrainian forces, the number of North Korean casualties is estimated to have exceeded 200.’,
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, ‘According to Reuters and AFP, a U.S. military official stated that hundreds of North Korean soldiers were casualties in engagements with Ukrainian forces in Russia’s western Kursk region.’,
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, ‘The anonymous official responded to questions about the ranks of North Korean casualties by saying they ranged from lower to nearly highest-ranking soldiers.’,
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North Korean soldiers under drone attack in Ukraine
(Seoul=Yonhap News) An image showing North Korean soldiers being targeted by a drone attack was released by Ukrainian Special Operations Forces on December 17th, 2024. [Screen capture from Ukrainian Special Operations Forces’ Facebook. No resale or redistribution permitted] 2024.12.18.,
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, ‘The estimated number of North Korean troops deployed to Russia currently stands at about 12,000.’,
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, “The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces shared footage showcasing attacks on North Korean soldiers and their armored vehicles, automobiles, and all-terrain vehicles using ‘first-person view drones’ (FPVs).”,
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, ‘Some of the footage is suspected to capture the detonation of cluster munitions on the battlefield, resulting in mass casualties or injuries among North Korean soldiers.’,
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, “Cluster munitions are highly lethal weapons containing dozens to hundreds of smaller bombs that spread over an area like ‘steel rain.'”,
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, ‘On the 14th, Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, reported via Telegram that Russia had begun deploying large numbers of North Korean soldiers in joint units to the Kursk front.’,
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, ‘He noted that the Russian-North Korean joint units are facing challenges with management and coordination due to language barriers.’,
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, ‘He suggested that North Korean soldiers might be deployed to frontlines in areas beyond Kursk.’,
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, ‘On the 17th, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, stated during an online address that the Russian military had launched an intense offensive operation for three consecutive days in the Kursk region, actively utilizing North Korean troops, who have already suffered significant losses.’,
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, ‘According to Ukrainian Defense Intelligence, North Korean casualties in the Russian-North Korean joint combat units have been replenished with personnel from the North Korean 94th Independent Brigade.’,
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, ‘This is interpreted as an effort by Russia to maintain a high-intensity offensive using North Korean soldiers on the most intense front lines.’,
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, ‘solatido@yna.co.kr’,
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