Official statements from Russian government or verified international news agencies

Seoul Says 300 North Korean Soldiers Killed Fighting in Ukraine, Ordered to Kill Selves if Captured

Jan 13, 2025, 07:41 AM

Approximately 300 North Korean soldiers have been killed and 2,700 wounded while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine, according to a South Korean lawmaker citing information from Seoul's National Intelligence Service (NIS). The casualties occurred during combat operations in the Kursk region of western Russia. South Korean intelligence reports that North Korean soldiers have been instructed by Pyongyang to kill themselves rather than be captured alive, with some attempting self-detonation to avoid capture. Over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv had captured two North Korean soldiers, releasing video footage of the injured combatants. A diary recovered from a deceased North Korean soldier reveals grisly battlefield tactics, including being used as human bait against Ukrainian drones. The high number of casualties is attributed to the troops' lack of understanding of modern warfare and ineffective tactics.