Official statements from the North Korean government or major international news outlets

North Korean Troops Suffer Over 1,000 Casualties in Ukraine 'Human Wave' Attacks, US Says

Dec 27, 2024, 05:56 PM

Ukrainian forces have reportedly captured a North Korean soldier in the Kursk region, marking the first such capture if confirmed. South Korea's intelligence agency has confirmed that a wounded North Korean soldier was captured by Ukrainian forces, though the soldier reportedly died from injuries shortly after capture. Reports indicate that North Korean troops are fighting alongside Russian forces in the Russia-Ukraine war, particularly in the Kursk region, and are suffering heavy casualties. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, over 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in the conflict. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby stated that North Korean forces are conducting 'human wave' attacks against Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region, resulting in over 1,000 North Korean casualties in the past week alone. Kirby accused Russia of viewing North Korean soldiers as expendable, ordering them into futile assaults. Zelensky accused Russian and North Korean forces of preventing the capture of North Korean soldiers, reportedly even executing their own troops to avoid capture. He called on China to use its influence over North Korea to prevent further deployment of North Korean soldiers to the conflict, expressing concern over the unnecessary loss of North Korean lives in Europe.