Approximately 8,000 North Korean soldiers are still fighting against Ukraine in the Kursk region, stated the head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, in an interview with The War Zone magazine published on February 4.
After The New York Times reported on January 30 that North Korean troops had been withdrawn from the front line, a representative of the Special Operations Forces confirmed to the Kyiv Independent that Ukrainian special forces had not encountered DPRK soldiers for three weeks.
Budanov refuted this information. He noted, however, that the number of North Korean troops has decreased, and Ukraine is trying to determine the reason.
“We need to wait some time to see if there are any real changes or if this is just a drop in activity over a few days,” Budanov said.
Last autumn, up to 12,000 North Korean servicemen were deployed to the Kursk region.
At least 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed and another 2,700 wounded in battles in the Kursk region, reported the National Intelligence Service of South Korea (NIS) on January 13.
The significant losses of the North Korean army may be linked to its lack of combat experience and the tactic of wave attacks with limited equipment, Budanov added. According to him, North Korean soldiers attack “almost without any combat equipment.”
Budanov also suggested that North Korean military personnel are so eager to advance on foot against Ukrainian drones and artillery due to their loyalty to North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un and their willingness to die for him. He added that their disregard for personal safety complicates the tasks of Ukraine's Defense Forces.
Background. It has been reported that South Korean intelligence confirmed the withdrawal of DPRK soldiers from the front. According to them, North Korean military personnel have not participated in combat operations for two weeks.