Additional Coverage:
- North Korea stands to lose all 12,000 of its troops in Kursk by mid-April if its casualty rate holds, analysts say (newsbreak.com)
North Korean Troops in Ukraine Face Heavy Casualties
Intelligence estimates suggest that around 3,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or injured in Ukraine’s Kursk region. If current losses continue, Pyongyang could lose its entire 12,000-strong force deployed there by mid-April.
Analysts estimate that North Korea loses around 92 soldiers daily, based on casualty reports and Russian military accounts. Despite the high casualties, the deployed troops represent only a small portion of North Korea’s total military strength.
Storm Corps Elite Forces Deployed
Intelligence indicates that the North Korean troops in Kursk are part of the elite Storm Corps, a special forces unit. The number of Storm Corps troops deployed is estimated to be between 12,000 and 200,000.
North Korea’s Potential Troop Increase
Concerns exist about whether North Korea will send more troops to assist Russia if casualties deplete frontline manpower. Ukraine estimates that Pyongyang could potentially deploy up to half a million soldiers.
Russia-North Korea Exchange
In return for military assistance, Russia is providing North Korea with food, technology, and economic support. Ukraine and South Korea also reported that Russia is paying a stipend for each North Korean soldier deployed.