2,000 North Korean soldiers killed in war against Ukraine — South Korean intelligence
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) estimates that around 2,000 North Korean soldiers, deployed to fight in Russia’s war against Ukraine, have been killed, according to a closed-door briefing to the parliamentary intelligence committee, Yonhap reported on Tuesday.
Previously, North Korea reported 350 military deaths, while the NIS in April 2025 estimated at least 600 North Korean fatalities in the conflict.
Following a “comprehensive review” with other countries, the NIS revised its estimate to approximately 2,000 deaths.
According to the NIS, North Korea has sent about 13,000 troops to support Russia’s military operations since October 2024 and plans to deploy an additional 6,000 soldiers.
The agency noted that around 1,000 North Korean combat engineers have already arrived in Russia.
North Korean military involvement in Ukraine war
In October 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Russia was preparing two units of 6,000 North Korean soldiers each.
By January 2025, Zelenskyy stated that 4,000 North Korean troops had been neutralized in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
Ukrainian forces report that North Korean soldiers refuse to surrender, often retrieving their fallen comrades or committing suicide to avoid capture. They also reportedly kill Ukrainian soldiers attempting to surrender.
Russia has sought to conceal North Korean involvement, with Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces noting that North Korean troops are documented as Tuvans.
Zelenskyy has reported instances of faces being burned to prevent identification of bodies.
- Share: