Topic: World News
by MPeriod
Posted 6 months ago
Key Topics Covered:
North Korean troops have resumed combat alongside Russian forces, according to South Korea's intelligence agency. This follows a period of heavy losses for these troops.
In early February, North Korean soldiers were redeployed to the frontline region of Kursk. The South Korean National Intelligence Service reported a possible increase in troop numbers, although specific details are still being investigated.
Reports indicate that Russian cargo ships and military aircraft transported between 1,000 and 3,000 additional North Korean soldiers during January and February. Last fall, estimates suggested that around 11,000 to 12,000 North Korean troops were already deployed in the Kursk region, which is partially occupied by Ukraine.
Russia is believed to be paying about $2,000 a month for each North Korean soldier, though the soldiers are unlikely to benefit from these payments directly.
Dmytro Ponomarenko, Ukraine's ambassador to South Korea, indicated that North Korea may sustain a troop presence of up to 15,000 soldiers, with rotations planned every two to three months. This could result in around 100,000 troops cycling through combat within a year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that at least 3,800 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured in Kursk. The UK’s Ministry of Defence recently noted that some North Korean units were withdrawn for rest and reorganization after sustaining heavy losses in combat.
North Korea has deployed some of its elite forces, including the 11th Corps, known as the “Storm Corps.” However, U.S. reports indicate these troops have been involved in high-casualty assaults with minimal successes, accumulating over 1,000 deaths in just one week.
Recent developments suggest that Russia has intensified its military operations in the Kursk region, which plays a significant role in any potential peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.