North Korean soldiers, who were sent to aid Russia in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine, are reportedly suffering from high casualty rates. Some are even taking their own lives rather than surrendering, according to official reports. Over the past week, in the Kursk region, the death toll among North Korean soldiers has exceeded 1,000, which is nearly 10% of the total North Korean forces deployed to Russia. This alarming number of fatalities is largely due to the “human wave” attack strategy implemented by the generals, which has essentially led to the soldiers being sent to their deaths.
John Kirby, the U.S. National Security spokesman, voiced his concern on Friday. He stated that both Russian and North Korean military leaders seem to be treating these troops as expendable, ordering them into hopeless assaults against Ukrainian defenses. He further noted that the North Korean troops, who are primarily fighting on foot, are highly indoctrinated and continue to push attacks even when it is clear that they are futile.
In addition to the high casualty rate, the North Korean soldiers are also dealing with shortages of water and supplies, as reported by Ukraine’s military intelligence agency. Images released by Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky appear to show North Korean troops seeking cover behind trees in Russia’s Kursk border region.
Earlier this week, Zelensky stated that preliminary data suggested that over 3,000 North Korean soldiers were either killed or wounded in the region. He further noted that the Russian military and North Korean enforcers seem to have no interest in the survival of these soldiers. He revealed that Ukrainian forces had captured some North Korean soldiers, but they were severely wounded and could not be saved.
Zelensky called on North Korea’s neighbors, particularly China, to intervene and prevent further loss of North Korean lives in the European conflict. He suggested that if China is sincere in its statements that the war should not escalate, it must exert appropriate pressure on Pyongyang.
In August, Ukrainian forces launched an incursion into the Kursk region as Russia pressed a slow-moving offensive in Ukraine. Ukraine managed to seize about 380 square miles of the Kursk region of Russia but has since lost about 40% of that territory due to a counterattack by Moscow.
John Kirby indicated that another security assistance package for Ukraine would likely be approved in the coming days. Earlier this week, President Biden condemned Russia’s Christmas Day attacks, including on Ukraine’s energy system, and requested the Defense Department to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine.