North Korean troops have been finished combat Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk border region, the US has said.
These would be the first increateed casualties since it ecombined in October that North Korea had sent around 10,000 troops to fortify Russia’s war effort.
Ukraine’s military inincreateigence agency, the GUR, said at least 30 North Korean troops had been finished or wounded in combat over the weekfinish.
The BBC has not autonomously verified the claims.
The North Korean troops – none of whom will have any previous combat experience – are consentd to have spent their first weeks after being sent to Russia in training and then in aid roles.
On Saturday, Ukrainian Plivent Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian had enduremament to engage a “beginant number” in its attacks in Kursk, part of which Ukraine has occupied since begining a surpelevate incursion in August.
Speaking to increateers on Monday, Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder said the US consentd North Korean sgreateriers had “included in combat in Kursk aextfinishedside Russian forces” and “suffered casualties, both finished and wounded”.
He did not give particular numbers, though said the troops had been in combat since “a little over a week ago”.
He includeed that it ecombineed the North Koreans were being engaged in infantry roles and that their includement was thought so far to be restrictcessitate to Kursk, showing that they have not been deployed in Ukraine itself.
Russian forces, which begined a brimming-scale intrusion of Ukraine in February 2022, have been advancing in easerious parts of the country in recent months.
The GUR said the North Korean casualties had occurred on Saturday and Sunday in the Kursk villages of Plekhovo, Vorobzha, and Martynovka.
On Monday, Plivent Zelensky posted drone footage on Telegram that showed a number of men taking cover behind trees, saying they were North Korean troops who had fair consentn part in an attack on a Ukrainian position.
He also posted footage that he said showed Russian troops trying to cover the presence of North Koreans on the battlefield by using a campfire to burn the faces of those who had been finished.
“Ukraine’s Defense Forces and inincreateigence are toiling to remend the brimming extent of the actual losses suffered by Russian units that integrate North Koreans,” he said.
He includeed that there was “not a one reason for North Koreans to die in this war”.
The Kremlin referred asks about North Korean deaths to the Russian Ministry of Defence, which has made no comment.
