Official announcements from the White House or U.S. Department of State

North Korean Troops Suffer Over 1,000 Casualties in Kursk Region Fighting Against Ukraine, Says John Kirby

Dec 27, 2024, 04:03 PM

North Korean troops have reportedly suffered heavy losses in the ongoing conflict in Russia's Kursk region, according to Ukraine's military intelligence and the White House. Recent assessments indicate that over 1,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in just the past week as they engaged in assaults against Ukrainian forces. The White House spokesperson John Kirby stated that these troops are being deployed in what has been described as 'human wave' attacks, which have resulted in significant casualties. The Ukrainian military intelligence has also noted that North Korean forces are facing logistical difficulties due to Ukrainian counterattacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously mentioned that approximately 3,000 North Korean troops had suffered losses in the fighting, although the latest figures from the White House specify that the casualties in the last week alone exceed 1,000. This situation highlights the challenging conditions faced by North Korean forces on the front lines of the conflict.