The Ukrainian Special Operations Forces released a video of a skirmish with North Korean soldiers, reporting 61 North Korean casualties. On the 22nd, they shared a 2-minute and 18-second video on Telegram, stating that their personnel had killed 21 North Korean soldiers and injured 40 others in Russia’s Kursk region.
The video begins with a scene showing approximately 31 North Korean flags marking locations, followed by soldiers moving through snow-covered terrain, attempting to avoid a detected drone, and explosions from a missile strike. Footage, presumed to be from a body cam, captured the image of a severely injured and deceased North Korean soldier.
The Special Operations Forces stated that they defended against North Korean attacks using rifles and grenade launchers for over 8 hours, and that snipers were also involved in the operation. They decided to strategically withdraw after nearly 9 hours of combat, having used up two-thirds of their ammunition, and retreated using two armored vehicles.
Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that the short video starkly demonstrates the dire situations faced by North Korean soldiers on the battlefield, although it did not detail any Ukrainian casualties.
Ukraine has consistently released footage and casualty reports from its skirmishes with North Korean soldiers. President Zelensky of Ukraine has repeatedly posted videos of two captured North Korean soldiers since the 11th of this month. In a video released on the 20th, a North Korean soldier, who identified himself as part of the 1st Company of the 2nd Battalion under the reconnaissance bureau, testified that his mother was unaware of his deployment, and he himself didn’t expect to be sent to war.
According to a statement by the National Intelligence Service on the 13th, estimates suggest that over 300 North Korean soldiers were killed and approximately 2,700 were injured on the Kursk front, tallying more than 3,000 casualties. Considering that about 12,000 North Korean troops had been deployed, this means that nearly 30% of the forces have left the front lines. This has led to analyses suggesting that North Korea might be preparing to send additional troops to Russia.