North Korean soldiers' presence in Russia raises global tensions
A significant number of North Korean soldiers were killed in the initial clashes against Ukraine alongside Russian forces. This information was reported by "The New York Times," citing anonymous Ukrainian and American sources.
According to the "NYT," the clashes occurred in the Kursk region of Russia, where Ukrainian forces have been conducting operations since August. An anonymous Ukrainian official stated that the skirmish was limited and aimed at detecting weak points in Ukrainian defence lines. The North Koreans were part of the 810th Independent Guards Marine Brigade.
An American official quoted in the newspaper stated that a "significant" number of North Korean soldiers were killed. However, details regarding the number of casualties or the exact time and location of the clash have not been disclosed.
Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed the initial clashes with North Korean soldiers in an interview with South Korean broadcaster KBS. He described them as a "small-scale" skirmish but declined to provide additional information.
Ukrainian President on North Korean soldiers
In his Tuesday speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that "the first battles with North Korean soldiers mark a new chapter of global instability." However, he did not provide further details on these events.
As reported at the end of October by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, there are approximately 10,000 North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia, of which 8,000 are in the Kursk region. On Monday, Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) reported that this number had increased to 11,000.
Zelensky has repeatedly called on the international community to respond to the presence of North Korean soldiers alongside the Russian army. The Ukrainian leader added that his services have provided data on all locations where North Korean soldiers are stationed. Zelensky emphasised that Western allies have not provided Ukrainians with long-range weapons that would allow an attack on the North Korean soldiers.
