North Korean Troops Withdrawn from Russia’s Kursk Region Amid Heavy Losses, Say Intelligence Agencies

Western, South Korean, and Ukrainian intelligence agencies report that North Korea deployed over 10,000 troops to support Russian forces in the western Kursk region. These deployments, intended to bolster Russia's military efforts against Ukraine, faced significant setbacks. Ukrainian officials claim wounded North Korean soldiers resorted to using grenades on themselves rather than being captured. By Friday, Ukraine's military stated that they believed North Korean troops had been "withdrawn" due to substantial losses.

Ukraine previously reported capturing or killing several North Korean soldiers in Kursk. Despite these claims, neither Pyongyang nor Moscow has officially confirmed the presence of North Korean forces in the region. However, a mutual defense agreement was reportedly signed when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea last year.

"Since mid-January, it appears that the North Korean troops deployed to the Kursk region of Russia have not engaged in combat," said South Korea's National Intelligence Service.

In December, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff noted that Pyongyang was preparing for additional deployments to support Russia's war efforts. This preparation comes as Ukraine still holds significant portions of Russian-claimed territory nearly six months after the deployment. Kyiv and Western allies have criticized the presence of North Korean soldiers as a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict.

South Korea's spy agency informed AFP on February 4 that North Korean forces had not engaged in combat since mid-January. The agency suggested that heavy casualties might be a reason for this withdrawal, though details remain under scrutiny.

"One reason for this may be the occurrence of many casualties, but the exact details are still being monitored," added South Korea's National Intelligence Service.

These developments follow a cross-border offensive by Ukrainian forces in August, marking the first foreign army incursion into Russian territory since World War II. During this operation, Ukraine captured dozens of border settlements, showcasing its tactical capabilities.

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released footage of interrogations with alleged North Korean prisoners captured by Ukrainian forces on the Kursk front. In a New Year’s letter, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hailed President Putin and alluded to the conflict in Ukraine.

"When the Russian army and people defeat neo-Nazism and achieve a great victory," said Kim Jong Un.